OCTOBER 153 



The sport is pursued most successfully with the 

 following special tackle which will be here described 

 somewhat fully. 



For bass and large pollack, the rod should be rather 

 longer than usual say 9ft. to 10ft., and should spring right 

 down to the butt The winch should be not less than 

 5ins. in diameter and the line, at least 100yds. in 

 length, should have a breaking strain of not less than 

 lOlbs. Between the hook (Minchin cod pattern) and the 

 main line, there should be first a hook-link of at least 

 10-inch plaited gut (my favourite hook link is three 

 strands of 18-inch lake-trout gut) and a 2-yard trace 

 of strong plaited gut with two German silver swivels. 

 On this may be put a Jardine, or other suitable pattern, 

 spinning lead of from ^oz. to 3ozs. in weight, according to 

 the amount of tide. For large fish the hook should be 

 baited with a whole pilchard, tail-end up the shank and 

 head cut off so that the entrails may float out. 

 The whole apparatus is used as follows I- 

 Getting a proper position either down the Bay, or 

 under the lea of the Island, or round at Spotty, just as 

 tide and wind may suit, enough lead (and no more), is 

 put on as will suffice to take the line within reasonable 

 distance of the bottom, well away from the boat. If 

 too much lead be used, the bait will be at once destroyed 

 by chads the young of the red bream which infest the 

 bottom at this part of the coast. If too little lead is 

 used the fish will not come up for the bait and no sport 

 will be obtained. The best method is to plumb the 

 depth with a heavy lead, guess the line required by the 

 angle formed by the line with the water, and mark the 

 depth by opening the strands of the winch line and 

 pushing through a little tag of coloured wool. It is 

 well to occasionally work the bait a little and draw in or 

 let out a little more line if the fish do not bite. 



For harbour fishing for bass probably more or less 

 lead may be needed according to the state of the tide. 



A very ingenious lead has been invented by Mr. 

 Hyde, a member of the British Sea Anglers' Society, 

 which lead can be placed any distance from the bait, 



