BLEAK IN ROACH-SWIMS. 51 



we have to shift the float only a few inches higher up the 

 line. I should say that, the stream here being rather swift, 

 we have put on larger floats, which carry more shot, and by 

 the keeper's advice we place one very small shot about 

 6in. above the hook. As soon as we have the depth, the 

 keeper takes two balls of our ground-bait, squeezes a small 

 stone into the middle of each, and puts them overboard, exactly 

 in a line with me, and two more in a line with my companion. 

 He then baits our hooks with two gentles, and the fun begins. 

 "We drop the tackle in close to the punt, and are very 

 particular to let as little line fall on the water as possible. 

 At the end of each swim we strike gently, sometimes by this 

 means hooking a cautious roach, which is holding the bait 

 in its moiith without moving the float. 



After a while, the roach we are catching not running as 

 large as the keeper led us to expect, I determine to try creed 

 wheat (see page 33), but before doing so throw in a few 

 handfuls of wheat, as far behind me up stream as I can. 

 By the time the current sweeps these grains into our swim 

 they are almost on the bottom, and the fish are feeding on 

 them. I now bait carefully with a grain of wheat, and catch 

 several roach of better size than those which took the gentles. 

 As soon as they go off the feed, I throw in a few more 

 grains, well up stream, and bring them on again. My friend 

 continues fishing with gentles, and is much annoyed by a 

 shoal of bleak — little fish not unlike sprats — which will not let 

 his bait alone, and prevent the roach from taking it. To 

 get rid of these little pests we first throw in some loose bran ; 

 but this not having the effect (it often succeeds), we throw a 

 few pieces of dry bread on to the water, and these the bleak 

 follow and leave us in peace. 



Before we leave the pitch I determine to try whether, as 

 frequently happens, there are not some big, cautious fellows 

 lying just below our swim, nipping up the few fragments of 

 ground-bait which the smaller and more eager fry allow to 

 escape. To put the matter to the test, I have only to move 

 the button at the back of my reel, which at* once becomes 

 free running. I am thus able to fish in the Nottingham 



F 2 



