34 A BOOK ON ANGLING 



tackle, when the barbel are biting freely, is not to be despised, 

 for you may sometimes have fish of eight, ten, and even twelve 

 pounds weight upon the finest possible hook and tackle. 



There are two means employed for barbel-fishing by 

 float-fishing and by a stationary bait kept in its place by 

 means of a plummet ; and, firstly, I shall treat of float-fishing 

 for barbel. The barbel's powerful fins enable him to frequent 

 the strongest and heaviest streams, and in these, if there be 

 a ledge or a deep hole or eddy in which he can rest, there he 

 will be found, and usually with many friends in his company. 

 Having found out his whereabouts, the next thing is to decide 

 upon the swim, and how to bait and fish it most advantage- 

 ously. There are many places which barbel affect, and in 

 which the largest fish will often be found, which, owing to 

 the turbulence of the water, can only be fished with ledger 

 tackle ; but for the float choose a moderately sharp part of 

 the stream as near the supposed hole as may conveniently be. 

 It should have a fairly level bottom without large stones or 

 other obstructions, and be of tolerably equable depth, with a 

 steady current and not too much eddy or boil. If the float on 

 the first trial be drowned or sucked under, a heavier one, with 

 a weightier set of tackle, should be chosen. Eight or ten BB 

 shots as sinkers will fish most streams, but the lightest tackle 

 which the stream will carry is the best, provided the float 

 swims easily and steadily. It is advisable that the swim 

 should not be less than four feet in depth, nor for the con- 

 venience and comfort of the angler should it be more than 

 from eight to ten, or the tackle will need to be heavy, and the 

 depth will be unmanageable for comfortable fishing. Of course, 

 I am here referring to the choice of a swim and to ordinarily 

 clear water. There are plenty of cases where there is no choice, 

 and the angler may be obliged at times to fish in fifteen or 

 twenty feet of water. On the other hand, if the water be 

 heavy and coloured much with rain, he will sometimes get 

 good fishing in three or four feet. Having found out where 

 there are barbel, and selected the swim, all that the angler has 

 to do is to bait the stream and fish it. If, however, he does not 

 know where there are barbel he should keep his eyes open, 

 and mark where he sees a barbel jump ; for, as they are by no 

 means a solitary fish, he will probably there find more of them. 

 Barbel are a very restless fish, jumping out of the water all 

 day long, differing in this from many fish which only show 

 themselves so in the morning and evening. It is said that they 



