TWE WEIGHT OF BARBEL 41 



hook a big one, and it is a wrinkle worth remembering. Let 

 the punt go from the poles and get below him if you can, 

 before he knows what he is about, so as to lead him down- 

 stream as far from his hold (and big fish always have one) 

 as possible. For if you continue to play him about the spot 

 where you hooked him, sooner or later he will make a bolt 

 to his hold, when you may wish him good-bye. Therefore, 

 get him, if possible, to travel into a strange country, when, 

 if the bottom be fairly clear and the hold good, you may 

 easily reduce it to a question of patience. 



There is one more way of catching barbel which is not at 

 all a general one, but it is perhaps the most sporting way 

 of any, and certainly in the hands of an adept it is a very 

 killing way. The plan is somewhat similar to that pursued 

 by trout fishers with the worm in rather heavy waters. Use 

 a large hook, or a Stewart's tackle, with three or four swan 

 shot, or a pistol bullet, cast up-stream, and let the line come 

 down, the lead and bait travelling naturally along the bottom, 

 and the angler striking by feeling the bite as in worming for 

 trout. I have heard of famous sport being gained in this 

 way with fine tackle, and that in weather when other modes 

 failed. I have never tried it, however. 



The largest barbel I ever took or saw taken weighed a 

 little over twelve pounds, and was taken on the ledger with 

 lampern bait, as noted above. I have seen scores of ten and 

 even eleven pound fish, but an honest twelve pounder is 

 decidedly rare in the Thames. One hears of twelve pounders 

 often, but one does not see them weighed, and Thames water, 

 from its strong magnifying powers, should be used for micro- 

 scopes. 



