40 THE PRACTICAL FISHERMAN. 



As the season advances small gudgeon are specially their fancy, and 

 the paternoster may be brought into use. For spinning with a flight 

 a minnow is good, a small barbel better, and a stone loach best if 

 the latter be prepared by being dropped into warm oil, which toughens 

 and turns the little fish to a golden colour. Kill it, of course, before this 

 process is resorted to. 



During flood time a lob worm may be used in still water on the ordinary 

 running or ledger tackle, and sometimes with great success. The largest 

 fish I ever took was with the tail of a dew worm, from still water ; 

 it scaled over 31b., and the bite was almost imperceptible. A favourite 

 method with me is to rig up a live bait as for trout, i.e., about a 

 yard of gut and one single hook, and to drop down from bough to 

 bough in the punt, allowing the gudgeon or loach to swim beneath the 

 overgrowth of ait many a fine perch have I taken in this way, and 

 many a goodly chub. Considerable nicety is required, however, to 

 prevent the fine line from getting entangled. Several ways of ground- 

 baiting for perch have been suggested, and I will describe two of the 

 most effectual. The first is to procure from the butcher a quantity of 

 bones from which the meat has not been entirely scraped. These should 

 be fresh. Tie to a line at intervals, and sink them where you suspect 

 the presence of perch. Fish over them with a piece of fresh raw beef 

 or a minnow or worm. Perch, being almost entirely carnivorous, are 

 very fond of flesh, and may be taken in this way when all other methods 

 have failed. The other is, obtain a globe of transparent glass, and, after 

 filling with water, turn in a crowd of minnows, and secure them with muslin 

 over the top. Then lower to where you expect the perch may be, and 

 fish after a day or two round it. This is more applicable to still water, 

 and in one signal instance I saw great results accrue from it. Speaking, 

 however, in view of all circumstances, I cannot but think that the 

 better plan is to find your perch by moving yourself about till his habitat 

 is hit upon. It is a pity to take advantage of perch when he is such 

 a bold biter. Why should the angler seek to emulate certain noble sports- 

 men in forming a battue of fish P Let us stalk our deer in this case, 

 and not by strategy draw them together in a multitude only to be 

 slaughtered. The best times of the day for perch, and especially large 

 fish, are in summer the first thing in the morning, while the dew 

 hangs over the water, and just before dusk, and in winter during early 

 afternoon. 



Before concluding this chapter I may be permitted to give some 

 directions for the capture and preservation of minnows, for although 

 other baits are killing, minnows are unquestionably the bait for perch 

 when perch are in the best condition. For capture, procure a large wide 



