THE THAMES TROUT. 279 



The tackle, therefore, used in spinning should be a light rod, which it 

 is best for the tyro to ask an experienced Thames fisherman to pick out. 

 In all cases it needs must be lighter than a jack rod designed for the 

 same river. In the chapter devoted to tackle I shall pronounce on the 

 most suitable material for rods manufactured for Thames trout. In the 

 meantime, let me only add that it should be so adapted to the user as 

 not to fatigue any one part of the body over much in its use or dispro- 

 portionately. This seems a slight point, but in reality it is of consider- 

 able importance, when one is bent on getting as much pleasure out of the 

 gentle craft as possible. Of the reel, personally I can safely say that 

 I prefer the Nottingham spring, made by Wells of that town, for the reason 

 that I always throw off the reel as described in the chapter on Pike. 

 There are many excellent fishermen on the Thames, who, being conserva- 

 tive in the best sense of that misused word, prefer the check or click 

 winch. This has been before described, and I need not further dilate 

 upon it beyond premising that a dressed line is requisite, as it is thrown 

 in the coil fashion from the punt's well, bottom, or till board. 



Now, as to the throw or cast. This may be made as for pike, but it should 

 be a refinement on that if possible. The tiny bait ought to fall with the 

 lightest of splashes on the water, and not as if the object were to break 

 the skull of some devoted fish. 



The trace next claims our attention. It should be of the best silk- 

 worm gut, and so tied and generally made as to exhibit uniformity in 

 the length of gut, distance of swivels, and taper, for it ought to taper 

 from its upper to the lowermost parts. 4ft. is quite long enough, and 

 the swivels should be double and of the smallest, made of brass. This 

 selection of metal is good because there is no rusting and consequent 

 kinking with it as there often is found to exist in the case of the ordinary 

 japanned steel. The brass may be oxidised or painted a dull green, the 

 latter is the better plan. The swivels should be interspersed at a dis- 

 tance of 9in. for 3ft., commencing at the line end. A loop at each end 

 completes the trace with the exception of the lead. 



It will be observed by the angler who has used the ordinary lead 

 attached rigidly to the trace, that I have given no directions for its 

 attachment. I have omitted this advisedly. The "Keene" lead figured 

 later on is capable of attachment at any part of the trace a boon 

 hitherto unattainable. The advantage of this arrangement is, that no 

 matter in what depth of water one is spinning for Thames trout (and in 

 fishing down from one station to others all sorts of depths are encountered), 

 the weight can always be raised or lowered as the angler lowers or 

 raises his roach float. He is, therefore, under little necessity to alter his 

 pace of spinning, and, the slower this is, be it said, compatible with a 



