AUGUST 131 



Thames fashion, endeavouring to get, if allowable, a little 

 beyond. After the float has reappeared, wait a moment 

 or two to give the bait time to sink, then draw the float 

 towards you till the line between it and the bait is taut 

 this may be known by the float tilting a little sideways. 

 If the intervening space of water between the float and 

 the rod-top be weedy the dressed line must be well 

 greased to make it float, otherwise the line will, when 

 sinking, get entangled, and you may lose the chance of 

 striking ; if, on the other hand, there be clear water 

 between, the line had better sink, as if there be any 

 breeze the floating line drags and disturbs the bait. 



By clever casting, a hole two yards in width each way 

 may be fished thus at twenty yards distance, though the 

 rest be thick weeds and the bottom soft mud. Anyone 

 using this tackle practically will be astonished at the way 

 in which the float travels through thick weeds and 

 brings the bait after it without anything hitching. The 

 same holds good with a hooked fish ; struggle, kick, and 

 flounder as he may, keep a tight line, give him the butt, 

 and he will come through everything. But there are 

 many carp ponds holding heavy fish which waters are 

 almost impossible to fish on account of the denseness of 

 the water weeds. These may be worked with the fourth 

 form, viz., that without float or weight. The tackle is 

 simple, viz., one hundred yards of strong, undressed 

 twisted silk pike line, stiff rod, Nottingham removable 

 check winch, a yard of stout gut, and hook or triangle as 

 before. How is the line to be got out ? This entirely 

 depends on the bottom. If it is hard, then put on 

 salmon waders, take the baited hook, put the check off 

 your winch, and walk out to the best clear space in the 

 path the carp travels, drop it in and put several pieces 

 of like bait loose around it. Walk ashore, put away 

 your waders and brogues, light a pipe, and await events, 

 having previously put your winch check on again, 

 pulling off about a yard of slack. When a fish takes 

 your bait he feels no check till he begins to move off; 

 then the winch begins to scream. Lift the rod, strike 

 and hold on. If he once gets a chance the carp will 



