FEBRUARY 47 



weight. The object of the sinker is to take the bait 

 down and keep the line taut between the rod-point and 

 the bait, so that the lightest touch may be felt. The 

 lighter the lead that is used the better, providing that 

 the two objects mentioned are attained. To render the 

 lead inconspicuous leave it over night in acetic acid, or 

 common vinegar, or even lemon-juice ; this is better 

 than painting. 



Now, how is the tackle to be used, and with what bait? 

 Personally, I swear by minnows, but some like gudgeons 

 better, others say they prefer worms. With worm 

 alone on paternoster I have never done any good, but 

 have occasionally taken fish by following the old tip of, 

 an odd time or two, putting a hook just above the lead 

 and baiting it with worm, while the upper hook is baited 

 with minnow, as usual. It will be observed that I have 

 said nothing about three-hook paternosters, and for a 

 very good reason. I find Kennet perch quite scary 

 enough, without startling them further by lowering 

 before their noses three hooks with probably three 

 different kinds of bait : not to mention the trouble that 

 would occur if two good fish, not to say three, were to 

 take a fancy to get hooked at the same time. Further, 

 the idea of playing a lively fish in a weedy river, with 

 two hooks flying loose, is not attractive : and the 

 complications caused by loose hooks and a fish with a 

 spiny back-fin in a landing net give one pause. No, 

 three hooks were all very well in the old days, when the 

 strength of the tackle allowed of skull-dragging, but 

 nowadays they are not only dangerous but also 

 unnecessary. 



A change of bait may be occasionally advisable, but 

 Kennet perch must be very well fed if they refuse a 

 nicely-presented minnow, or, better still, two, hooked 

 each through the upper-lip on the same hook ; this last 

 tip was given me by an old perch-fisher, who has 

 certainly had his share out of the river. 



Now as to how and when to fish. 



In fishing this river, whether for trout or coarse fish, 

 in summer or in winter, keep out of sight, 



