RAKING FOR GUDGEON. 99 



varying from 2ft. to 4ft. deep, where the bottom is sandy or 

 gravelly, and the stream moderate. In September the finest fish 

 will often be taken in swims from 10ft, to 12ft. in depth. The 

 very best swims are always those just on the edge of holes. As 

 soon as the cold weather sets in, gudgeon shift to deep water, 

 and do not often take a bait. Like barbel, they probably eat 

 very little in winter. The weather cannot be too hot or the sun 

 too bright for gudgeon-fishing. 



Tackle and Baits. — The float-tackle used for roach (see 

 page 25) is suitable for gudgeon, but a small shot should be 

 bitten on 4in. above the hook, which should be a very small 

 one, and have its shank painted red. I need hardly repeat that 

 the float should be as small, and the shot as few, as the depth 

 and force of the current will allow. The gut (many anglers 

 prefer hair) cannot be too fine, and the hook should be very- 

 small — No. 12 or No. 13. The bait is a fragment of worm, red- 

 worm being the best. When the gudgeon run very large, 

 I put on a larger hook and about half a redworm; but, 

 as a rule, I find I take most fish by threading on to 

 the hook a piece of worm not more than iin. in length ; 

 it usually sufiices to catch a dozen fish or more. I would 

 advise the use of light running tackle, even for gudgeon, for 

 other fish — notably perch — are often hooked. 



The Thames Method of Gudgeon-fishing is the best with 

 which I am acquainted. The essentials are : A punt, two rypecks 

 [i.e., mooring poles) ; a rake, the head of which contains four or 

 five teeth and weighs from 51b. to 101b., and the handle of which 

 is about 18ft. long ; the light float-tackle above-mentioned, and 

 some well-scoured redworms or brandlings. It is also as well 

 to take out our heavier rod and a paternoster, which we can 

 bait with small gudgeon or minnows, and lay out by the side of 

 the gudgeon- swim. If we do this, we shall surely catch a perch 

 or two, and shall add, both directly and indirectly, to the 

 weight of our basket; for when perch are allowed to remain, 

 they assuredly drive the gudgeon out of the swim, or, at least, 

 stop their feeding. Well, all things being ready, our fisherman, 

 or a brother angler, punts us to a suitable swim, somewhere out 

 of the wind, and moors the punt across the stream in the manner 



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