46 AN ANGLER'S YEAR 



attracted by the falling worms ; it moved towards the 

 last worm, which was quite close to the surface, beneath 

 my feet. I then saw that it was a magnificent perch 

 which must have gone nearer four than three pounds. 



I am well aware that all fishermen are proverbially 

 given to exaggeration, but in this case I must ask for 

 credence. Perch I know well, and have constantly 

 handled specimens from lib. to 31bs. in weight apiece, 

 but such a fish I never dreamt of before ; as I gazed at 

 him, spell-bound, he caught sight of me and, abandoning 

 his worm, sank again slowly into the deeps. For months 

 I angled for that perch, but though I caught trout, 

 chub, greyling, barbel, and several of his smaller 

 brethren, as far as I know he still lives to gladden the 

 heart of some more fortunate angler. 



Even when trying for this monster, I did not use 

 heavy tackle, and indeed deemed it unnecessary. If one 

 can capture trout of from 31bs. to Gibs, on drawn gut, why 

 should one require salmon-gut for perch of half the 

 size ; for, nowadays, it is a good fish which weighs over 

 l^lbs., and a specimen over 21bs. The best fish I ever 

 took on the paternoster went 2|lbs. The gut of the 

 paternoster then should be of the finest natural, as round 

 as can be obtained ; if the water is extra bright I use 

 drawn-gut once through the plate. There should be as 

 few knots as possible. I made up a trial paternoster of 

 two pieces of 18 inch gut, bought last summer for fly- 

 fishing points, with the hook-link loop at the lower end, 

 and below that seven inches of drawn gut to which the 

 lead was looped. This seems an ideal tackle, and stands 

 between the hook-point and the loop for the main-line, 

 a dead strain when dry of 41bs. This is surely more 

 than any perch can pull, and a good deal more than my 

 rod can stand. I should say that I mount my hook 

 upon 5 inches of the same material. 



As regards the lead, the average pear shape is 

 undoubtedly wrong, as the enlarged base enters the 

 water with too much of a plop. The pipe-lead shape is 

 much better; a small pipe-lead with a piece of brass 

 wire doubled and run through makes an excellent 



