124 AN ANGLER'S YEAR 



containing fish not easily captured. But, nevertheless, 

 within reach of London there are plenty of places where 

 carp fishing may be got. Occasionally in the pages of 

 the sporting papers we see inquiries such as the 

 following : 



" I have permission to fish a lake containing carp 

 ranging from lOlbs. to 121bs in weight. How can I best 

 fish it?" 



This is answered by a short note from the editor : 

 " Ground bait, with worms ; and fish it in the morning." 



The first time the writer went carp fishing, having 

 carefully read all the directions given in the pages of his 

 angling library, he went out and followed the advice 

 therein contained. After spending some days and 

 money in this pursuit he decided that the gentlemen who 

 wrote those chapters either were not carp anglers, or else 

 that their carp were not as his carp. Then a desperate 

 longing came upon him to seize and mesmerise Mr. Kelly 

 and put an influence upon him which would force him to 

 reveal in confidence all he knew; but, alas, it never got 

 any further than a longing> and so for years remained. 



But in course of time he became acquainted with a 

 man who caught carp, and persuaded him to take him 

 out fishing with him. From that moment his fate was 

 sealed. 



Hither and thither throughout the land has he pursued 

 these water Solons with all kinds of tackle, even to two 

 quill pens, a bottle cork, some sealing-wax, and a piece 

 of lead wire formed into an impromptu float, a salmon 

 rod and line, and a lake trout fly, denuded of feathers, 

 for a hook. It is stated that carp are sometimes easily 

 caught ; on these occasions the writer has always been 

 absent, a fact he greatly regrets At other times they 

 are the shyest, the wiliest, and the most cautious fish 

 that swim ; and in order to capture them brain must be 

 pitted against brain, and herein the charm of carp- 

 fishing lies. 



The dry-fly man cares not to take fish but with the 

 dry-fly, because the skill necessary for the capture of 

 trout by this methed is the charm of the sport to him. 



