10 AN ANGLER'S YEAR 



to observe the ways of the natives, as that way success 

 frequently lies. 



We have all, " even the youngest," something to 

 learn in angling, and that something will remain unlearnt 

 if the angler wraps himself in' his cloak of superior 

 knowledge and leans upon that broken reed, superiorly 

 finished tackle. 



The countryman with his hazel wand or fourpenny 

 bamboo very often wipes the eye of the noble sportsman 

 with the ten guinea outfit. Local knowledge is the 

 master key to angling success ; and this local knowledge 

 can only be personally gained by long experience. A clever 

 angler can however, pick up a lot of useful hints from the 

 local sportsmen if he accepts freely the position of a 

 learner ; but let him put on for an instant the airs and 

 graces of an expert and his friendly teacher usually shuts 

 up like an oyster. " Whoi shoo'd oi be a-bawthered 

 teachin' he? He think he know "as my old Broadman 

 said of a very distinguished and bumptious angler who 

 came to patronise that particular piece of water on 

 which my old eel-catcher made his living. 



The universal rule always to be observed is that the 

 tackle should fit the fish from hooklink to winch, and 

 that the best sport is got with the lightest tackle suitable 

 for the circumstances. Some modern or little 

 appreciated forms of tackle universally useful to bottom 

 fishers must here have a passing reference. 



Of hooks little here can now be said, as the most 

 useful sizes and forms are mentioned in the ensuing 

 chapters. 



In gut, marked changes are yearly being made, and 

 nowadays strands of serviceable material of eighteen 

 inches in length can be reasonably purchased. As 

 regards float-fishing, the idea of making the line practi- 

 cally continuous with the float-tip has been attempted 

 by various patent methods. The simplest, in the author's 

 opinion is the method described by him when speaking 

 of carp-fishing. The entire absence of hitching when 

 drawing the float through weeds requires but one trial 

 to be appreciated. This is, of course, especially required 



