THE PERCH OF THE RIVER 239 



to seek out some spot where the stream flows 

 quietly over a shallow flat, generally to be found where 

 the river widens and forms shallow bays, and fish 

 with Nottingham float-tackle and worms. Two or 

 three such places may be baited up with worms on 

 the previous day with great advantage, and usually a 

 larger run of fish will be caught in this way than 

 when the water is clear and paternostering is carried 

 on among the weeds. 



There are, broadly speaking, two ways of fishing 

 with the worm. The bait may either lie on the 

 bottom, as when we use the ledger or ledger float 

 tackle ; or drift down the stream, tripping along over 

 the sand or clean gravel, and suspended by a float. 

 In my experience, perch will take what I may term 

 a tripping or moving worm more readily than one 

 which is stationary. Of course, if the fish are scattered 

 about more of them will see a worm which travels 

 than one which lies stationary on the bottom. On the 

 other hand, if some little hole or nook under a willow 

 bush is baited up, it is as well to have a stationary bait, 

 for fishy little corners like this soon get disturbed if 

 there is much casting in and pulling out of float-tackle. 



In July many a fine fat fish is caught from 

 punts by those who lay out floating tackle, baited 

 with a gudgeon, on which perch teed voraciously at 



