NOTTINGHAM TACKLE 43 



tackle or letting out long line, it is requisite to moderate their 

 pace. As the right hand is engaged in holding the rod, this 

 is effected by the pressure of the fore-finger of the left hand 

 on the edge or circumference of the revolving reel, according 

 as the pace is required to be regulated, while by increasing 

 the pressure the run of the line may be stopped altogether. 

 If this precaution be not taken, the reel, when in full impetus, 

 turns round so much faster than the line runs out through 

 the rings, that it is apt to overrun the line, and a sad tangle 

 is the result. This part of the operation requires practice 

 and a good deal of practice. Indeed, the whole system is 

 much more difficult than the one in ordinary use on the 

 Thames ; but to compensate for this it is much neater and 

 more deadly when once acquired. 



The equipment of the Nottingham roach and dace-fisher 

 will be as follows : Rod, light and springy, more flexible 

 than a Thames punt-rod, but not so flexible as a fly-rod 

 almost midway between the two about twelve or thirteen 

 feet long, and not too heavy for one hand, and with small 

 upright rings ; a wooden reel with seventy or eighty yards 

 of the finest Derby twist on it ; a tackle of very fine gut 

 of about four .or five feet in length. The hook used is usually 

 of the straight round-bend pattern, as the worm is more often 

 used than any other bait ; the size of course will be pro- 

 portioned to the fish that for dace, roach, etc., being equal 

 to a No. 8. The float is composed solely of some eight inches 

 of a good sound goose-quill, the top of which is painted to 

 make it watertight, the bottom having a ring whipped on to 

 it for the line to pass through. The float has no caps, as being 

 usually attached to the running line (instead of to the tackle 

 as in the Thames fishing) it is fastened on with two half 

 hitches. This float carries about from four to six BB shot, 

 the lowest of which is a good foot above the hook, so as to 

 allow the bait to drag for some inches on the bottom without 

 catching ; the others are placed at intervals of six inches or 

 so up the tackle. This is far better and less visible, and the 

 line swims straighter and less wavily in the water than in the 

 Thames plan, where the shot are all crowded together at 

 one spot (some six or eight inches above the hook). With 

 this tackle Trent anglers fish for roach, dace, perch, gudgeon, 

 chub, and bream, and in a light or slow water occasionally for 

 barbel ; though for regular barbel-fishing in the heavy streams, 

 they have a set of heavier apparatus altogether, which is 



