SALMON-FISHING WITH FLOAT-TACKLE. 125 



after the bite. The angler should keep as much as possible 

 out of sight, and cast up stream. In fact, the process is 

 very similar to worming for trout in clear water, described at 

 length on pages 67 to 70. The bad point about the process 

 is the number of fish which break away owing to the small- 

 ness of the hooks. Mr. Pennell's method answers very well 

 in small, rapid streams, but it is not so useful in large 

 rivers, or in pools in small, sluggish streams. 



The Trent Method is the application of the well-known 

 Nottingham style of float-fishing to angling for salmon. The 

 float is made either of cork or from the quill of any large 

 bird (goose or turkey) ; the line is moderately fine, of undressed 

 silk, either plaited or twisted (the latter is the stronger, but 

 does not run so freely as the former), wOund on a free-running, 

 centre balance, Nottingham reel, with or without an adjustable 

 check. A single hook is used, about 18in. above which should 

 be four or five swan-shot. The rod may be of bamboo cane, 

 or one of the Nottingham barbel-rods. For deep water the 

 float should be a slider — i.e., slide on the line, but prevented 

 from going up too far by a piece of indiarubber ring tied on 

 to the line, so large that it prevents the float from slipping 

 up, but so small that it will go through the rings of the rod. 

 Mr. Francis Ley, an experienced Trent angler, and owner of 

 some of the best salmon-fishing on the Trent, very kindly 

 sent me a set of the tackle he uses. It is intended for deep, 

 heavy water. On the shank of the hook (No. 16, round-bend, 

 Kendal, or 2/0 Redditch, very stout in the wire) is whipped 

 a loop made from the silk running line (square, solid eight- 

 plait, undressed). This gives the bait plenty of play in the 

 water. Above the hook, and looped to it, is 2ift. of stout 

 salmon-gut, knotted with the "buffer" knot; 18in. above the 

 hook is a swan-shot, and Sin. higher another swan-shot. On 

 the silk running line is a pipe lead of about |oz., which rests on 

 the knot connecting the silk line and gut. The float is of cork, 

 about Sin. in length, tapered, and slightly curved. In ordinary 

 salmon-rivers the lighter tackle I have mentioned is often 

 heavy enough, but in the deep pools of the Trent very heavy 

 tackle is required. After the depth has been found (the dis- 



