72 THE PRACTICAL FISHERMAN. 



properly hooked, but who, in its unsuccessful endeavours to get the gut 

 across the aforesaid spine, had wound the line round and round its body 

 so inextricably as to allow of its being landed tail first. Fortunately, the 

 tackle was stronger than usual. 



The tackle I use is of the finest description. The gut is usually a part 

 of a fine fly-cast, in length about 4ft. or 5ft. The float for it is 

 ordinarily better to use a float is a light quill. On the lower part of the 

 gut, at about a foot or so from the hook, I attach a couple of large split 

 shots. The float is so adjusted that, whilst one of the shots lies on the 

 bottom, the other just deflects it from its horizontal position on the 

 surface. The bait is a well scoured cockspur or red worm, and is 

 impaled on a medium-sized hook. Of course the bait lies on the bottom. 

 The rod should now be sustained in position by means of the spike 

 or a notched stick, and the angler, if possible, should retire beyond it 

 and watch. As soon as he sees the float assume an upright position the 

 rod should be taken cautiously, and as soon as the fish has taken it away, 

 say a few inches, in a decided manner, it is time to strike with firmness 

 and decision. The first rushes of the fish must be controlled with equal 

 firmness and discretion, lest a "smash up" result. I have never known 

 this kind of tackle to fail if used judiciously. The line and rod should be 

 fine and light. 



A curious and ingenious, but troublesome, expedient for catching 

 unwilling carp, is given by Mr. Fitzgibbon in his " Notes to Walton," and 

 I think it is worthy of reproduction here. He says : 



" A correspondent not long since wrote to me for advice. He had a 

 pond in which were many large carp, and although he had angled for them 

 in due season, from February to October, during seven years, he had not 

 succeeded in capturing them. I advised him to line with hurdles the bank 

 of the pond at the spots where he meant to fish, to ground-bait those spots 

 with red worms, gentles, and especially with sweet paste, for three or four 

 days, to then take his rod, and supporting on a bifurcated prop (cut off 

 the branch of a tree) inserted in the bank behind the hurdles, to place on 

 this line a hook broken off at the bend that is, without barb or sharp 

 point, to bait this harmless hook with sweet paste, and to sink it nearly 

 to the bottom of the already ground-baited water. The carp will soon 

 take this bait, and finding they can do so with impunity, they will 

 become bolder hourly. Eeplacing the bait every time it is nibbled off, 

 and continuing to do so for three or four days, commence then angling in 

 earnest. With the same rod and line, but with a barbed hook baited 

 exactly as before, come behind the hurdle, and with very light float angle 

 cautiously. My correspondent acted on my advice, and succeeded in 

 catching as many of the large carp as he wanted." 



