102 AN ANGLER'S YEAR 



all, and October will see him nearly lib. heavier; he has 

 given good sport and well deserves his Ifberty. By this 

 time it is five o'clock, and you have got, say, a dozen 

 fine dace, so pack up your fish, put your rod on your 

 shoulder, and get back to tea at the inn, where over 

 your meal you can chaff your comrades, who, sticking 

 to old methods, have toiled all day long and caught 

 nothing. This is no fancy picture, but is a good sample 

 of the many interesting days which one may get with 

 this method of fishing. 



A record of one of these days may be quoted from an 

 old note book and will give actual figures. " On water 

 at nine-fifty, left at five. Result : two trout (returned), 

 six roach (best lib. lOozs.), fourteen dace (best llfozs.), 

 three perch (returned), one chub (2Jlbs.) All fish taken 

 fishing by sight, caddis bait on crystal hook. Fish took 

 well at first, but owing to shot working to inner bend of 

 hook some were missed at the bridge swim." 



Of course, an absence of wind and gin-bright water 

 are the two essentials for success, as either rrevent a 

 good view of the fish being obtained. 



The rivers where such fishing can be practised within 

 easy reach of London are many. 1 have quoted the 

 Kennet simply because it is my favourite river, not 

 because it is in any way more suited for this sport than 

 the Lea, the Avon, or a dozen others. The method of 

 fishing is of much greater importance than the river on 

 which it is tried. Given clear water success ought to 

 be certain, and it may safely be said that to anyone who 

 has succeeded in picking it up it possesses a wonderful 

 fascination. The chief charm is that the whole process 

 is in sight, and one sees more, perhaps, of the true 

 inwardness of the fish feeding by this than by any other 

 method. No one who has not had the opportunity of 

 watching roach and dace in rapid water, can have any 

 idea of the rapidity with which these fish can absorb 

 and eject a bait. Frequently I have seen a dace take in 

 my bait and instantly blow out the hook denuded of the 

 caddis, and only the faintest of faint plucks was con- 

 veyed to the rod point. I am convinced that the 



