IMPROMPTU PIKE-PATEENOSTER. 43 



summer usually have their lairs in weeds and reed-beds, so that 

 the corner where I am fishing is a particularly likely place for 

 one of these fish. To put the matter to the test, I fix the joints 

 of my second rod together (see page 13), and not having proper 

 jack tackle with me, I tie my plummet on to the end of the 

 running line, and a foot above the plummet tie on a hook, 

 mounted on gimp, which is fortunately in my book. My 

 last fish happened to be small, and is still alive, so I put 

 the hook through both its lips, and drop it into the water, 

 close to the reeds. "I will give the jack five minutes," I 

 think to myself, " and meanwhile there is time for a pipe." 

 However, before my pipe is even out of my pocket I 

 see a shaking of the line, followed by a downward 

 movement of the rod-top. I wait a second, then 

 up with the point, hold on for a moment, to get the hook 

 well in, and I am playing a fine Jack of half a dozen pounds. 

 " No wonder the roach were frightened," think I, as he comes to 

 the top, and opens his ugly mouth at me. Not for a moment 

 must I let the line slack. All through must an even pressure be 

 kept on the fish's mouth. Soon he tires, and ray landing- 

 net is brought into requisition. There is not much chance 

 of roach for half an hour after this disturbance, so shifting my 

 quarters, and espying a suitable swim, I do a little 



Nottingham Fishing. — I am now going to fish some dis- 

 tance from the bank — about 25ft. out — and the water is somewhat 

 heavier than in my other swim. Slightly heavier tackle is there- 

 fore necessary, so I take a larger set of float tackle off my winder — 

 that is to say, tackle with more shot and a larger float. Another 

 reason for preferring heavier tackle is that its weight renders 

 it easier to cast. When changing tackles, I leave the first 

 tackle on the grass, near my old swim, and am careful not 

 to move the float, so that when I return there will be no occa- 

 sion to plumb the depth for a second time. I also remove 

 the piece of match from my line, and shorten the rod by 

 taking off the extra butt. The depth of the new swim has 

 now to be discovered. To use the plummet here is impossible. 

 Of course I put the float as near as I can guess at the depth, 

 rather higher than lower, and cast out my tackle baited with 



