132 AN ANGLER'S YEAR 



wind that line in and out through the weeds so that no 

 power on earth could disentangle it. On the other 

 hand, if he is once turned he will come in to your feet. 

 But supposing it isn't hard bottom, or, if it be too deep 

 for wading, what is to be done then ? If it is a small 

 pond, go to the end, get a friend to help rig up two rods, 

 and an inch above the baits tie the hook lengths together 

 with rotten thread ; one then walks one side and one 

 the other, each letting out line cautiously. Get both 

 baits over a hole, give a sharp pull, the thread breaks, 

 and both baits drop into the hole. Stiffish rods must 

 be used, as springy ones would switch the baits into the 

 weeds. 



Nothing has been said about carp fishing from a punt, 

 and this omission has been intentional. Any advantage 

 that may accrue from using a punt to get at the most 

 likely spots is, in the present writer's opinion, counter- 

 balanced by the constant disturbance caused by 

 rocking the boat, etc. 



A few words must be said in conclusion as to the best 

 time of day for fishing. There is but little doubt that 

 the first three hours after sunrise are the best. While 

 the morning mist still lies the carp do not seem to feed, 

 but when the rising sun has dispersed this they often 

 bite fast and furiously for the next hour or two. In the 

 evening, on some waters, the sport is best from sunset 

 till dark ; but on others the fish seem to feed best dur- 

 ing the first hour of darkness. One of the best places 

 within hail of London for carp fishing is undouotedly 

 Wimbledon Lake, where, when Mr. John Garlick was 

 proprietor, the author has taken between 8 p.m. and 

 10 p.m. on one evening one carp over 51bs. and 

 next morning between 4 and 6 p.m., two more scaling 

 exactly 10^-lbs. The Penn Ponds, Richmond Park, the 

 lake at Foots Cray (the late Sir John Pender's place), 

 and Cheshunt Lower Reservoir (where Kelly took his 

 great carp) teem with grand fish of this species ; also in 

 many old lakes throughout the country good carp are to 

 be seen, although it requires more than local skill to 

 capture them. Those fishermen who do not pursue fiy 



