162 THE PERCH. 



of the same dimensions, though he is the stronger fish of the two 

 when first hooked. 



I have often taken very fine perch when spinning the minnow 

 for trout, and I remember on one occasion having excellent sport 

 with the kill devil made with red wool, and ribbed with tinsel, and 

 this in the Test where perch are by no means plentiful ; yet strange 

 to say, though I tried it several times afterwards in other waters 

 much better supplied with this fish, I found it answer so badly that 

 I altogether laid it aside as far as the perch were concerned : but 

 the fact is, there are some days the fish will bite or run at almost 

 any thing, whilst on others do what you will, and angle as skil- 

 fully as you may, the most tempting baits would fail to attract 

 them. 



If you fish with a minnow for perch in waters that contain pike 

 also, a gimp hook is to be preferred, as it is very probable some of 

 the latter fish may pay a visit to your baits, and perch are not 

 very shy of the stoutness of tackle, though where no pike are to 

 be expected, strong silkworm gut will always be preferable to 

 gimp. 



I have sometimes had good sport in trolling for perch with the 

 dead gorge, having a gudgeon for a bait, fishing with it in the 

 same manner as for pike, and in this way some of the largest fish 

 may be taken 



When a* frog is used the hook should be baited by running 

 the point and barb of it through the skin of the leg. Sufficient 

 lead should be used to keep little froggie from coming to the 

 surface, and swimming to land, as he will otherwise be sure to 

 do; to counterbalance which a good sized float will be re- 

 quisite. 



But besides the baits I have mentioned, the perch will bite free- 

 ly at gentles, the cadis, or a grasshopper sunk beneath the surface : 

 as also slugs and at preserved salmon spawn ; and I was informed 

 by an- experienced angler now no more, that a boiled shrimp or 

 prawn taken out of the shell is a most attractive bait for a perch. 



I have also occasionally taken perch when dapping with the nat- 

 ural fly on the surface ; and sometimes I have caught them when 

 whipping with the artificial one, and generally with the red palmer ; 

 but the perch does not take the artificial fly freely, and it is by no 

 means a successful mode of fishing for him. 



