THE PLTJMB-LINE. 103 



phantom. A very heavy lead (loz. or more) should be put on 

 the trace, 14yd. from the bait, which should be trailed slowly at 

 the end of 50yds. or more of line. If it is cast out in Thames 

 fashion, it should be allowed to sink well before being drawn in. 

 If sport is not obtained, try lighter or heavier leads until your 

 bait is at the right depth. This difficulty of finding the depth 

 may be got over by the plumb-line already referred to. This 

 tackle consists of a strong cord, about 50yds. in length, which 

 carries five baits. At the end of the line is a large swivel, and 

 to the swivel is fastened a l|lb. lead. Attached to the line are 

 five droppersjwhich vary in length from 6yds. to 10yds. The 

 shortest are nearest the lead. To each dropper is fastened a 

 trace with swivels, and at the end of each trace is a spinning 

 bait, usually of metal, home-made — one side silver, the other 

 copper. The boat is rowed slowly along, and the lead is let down 

 over the stern. Then follows a dropper, then some of the cord, 

 and another dropper; and so on until all the line is in the water. 

 The heavy lead causes the main line to hang down nearly 

 perpendicularly in the water. The resistance of the spinning 

 baits to the water, as the boat moves along, keeps them and the 

 traces extended clear of the cord. In March, the Windermere 

 char are about 90ft. down in the deepest parts of the lake. They 

 come nearer the surface in the summer. About September they 

 come on to the shallows for spawning purposes, and are netted 

 during the autumn. The angler should bear their changes of 

 position in mind. 



In some lakes, probably all, char take a worm well at night. 

 The boat is moored, and the tackle — which consists of a gut cast 

 and two small hooks, a yard above which is a ^oz. pipe lead — is 

 let down a considerable depth into the water. Yarious depths 

 must be tried, until the fish are found. The baits are well- 

 scoured brandlings and redworms. The fish bite best just 

 before dawn. 



