100 BOTTOM OR FLOAT-FISHING. 



The above observations are equally applicable to 

 both Carp and Tench fishing. 



In very weedy places this mode of fishing is not 

 practicable, and then the best plan is to fish about 

 mid-water, dropping the bait noiselessly in wher- 

 ever a tempting-looking opening in the weeds 

 presents itself. 



ON SMALL FISH, PRINCIPALLY USED 



AS BAITS. 

 BLEAK AND GUDGEON. 



THE Bleak, though I think properly included 

 under this division of my subject, is, in fact, rarely 

 caught by bottom-fishing, properly so called. It 

 is essentially what is termed a " surface-swimmer," 

 and as such should be fished for exclusively at the 

 top. The Gudgeon, on the contrary, is perhaps 

 the most remarkable example amongst sporting 

 fish, of a species haunting and feeding exclusively 

 at the bottom ; and I have bracketed the two 

 together because they illustrate in a marked 

 manner the importance to the angler of studying 

 accurately the habits of the fish angled for. It 

 is probable that if a man were to fish for 



