50 



tive scents, unless the following may be considered one : Take 

 two pounds of judgment, four pounds of patience, and six pounds 

 of practical knowledge ; mix the whole well together, and I think 

 you will find it to be a valuable recipe for taking any of the 

 twelve fish treated of in this book. 



THE AET OF ANGLING FOE BAEBEL. 



The best state of the water is when it is clear and low. The 

 best wind for Barbel fishing with the float is that which blows 

 behind you, no matter from what quarter it comes, North, East, 

 South, or West, so long as it blows off the bank from which 

 you are fishing, and slightly up the river. Some Anglers 

 contend that the fish will not bite when the wind is in the East 

 but I have satisfied myself by experience that this is "bosh." 

 I know several swims in which it would be impossible to fish 

 with the float for Barbel with any other than an easterly wind. 

 I am speaking of fishing from the bank. Of course if you fish from 

 a boat or punt the direction of the wind does notmatter, as youcan 

 shift your position ; but you must remember that it is useless 

 attempting to Barbel fish with the float when the wind is blowing 

 in your face or down the river ; the latter especially will beat 

 you, as the stream near the top is then impelled much faster 

 than the current at the bottom, so that your float is driven 

 forward, while your tackle and bait is dragging behind, which is 

 the reverse of the proper style. Your bait should always be in 

 advance of your float : never allow your bait to trail on the 

 bottom, but just to miss it, nor your line to swim before your 

 float. When the wind is blowing right for you, by allowing 

 the line to go rather tight, you keep it behind the float, and the 

 float will then point up the stream, while the tackle will go in 

 advance of it. This is what I call putting the bait against the 

 noses of the fish. "When your bait is swimming in this style, the 

 fish can take it without much trouble ; all that he has got to do 

 is to open his mouth and let it go in. But when your float is 

 swimming first, and your bait dragging on the bottom, your shot 



