258 ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT FISHERIES 



terminates in a trace of medium lake gut, three yards 

 in length, and having a brass swivel at either end 

 and in the middle. Thus the top dropper is twelve 

 yards long from the bait to the main line, whilst the 

 bottom one is seven yards. 



The baits are made of thin metal, so shaped that the 

 wings or ears are on the principle of an Archimedean 

 . screw, which causes them to revolve rapidly 

 when drawn through the water. Each bait 

 carries a treble hook, linked through a hole in the bait by 

 means of an 8-link. Some anglers fasten the bait to the 

 trace with an 8-link, while others use a watch spring 

 swivel, which is a great convenience if one wants to 

 change one's bait. Char baits are made of various metals ; 

 but copper, electroplated with silver on one side, is 

 the most reliable. A good variation of this is to have 

 a few baits gilded on the copper side with gold leaf; 

 and also a few gilded on the silver side. Many trollers 

 have baits of real gold plate ; while some of the more 

 ingenious have barred baits, made of strips of metal 

 soldered together. In fact the varieties of baits are 

 almost endless. Brass and copper is sometimes a good 

 bait in summer, and brass and red in spring ; while a bit 

 of lacquered tobacco box will sometimes take well. It 

 is probably owing to slight variations in the light that 

 one bait will kill fairly well when the char will not look 

 at another ; for often times the variation in shade is so 

 slight that none but the most practised eye can detect it. 

 As a rule, light copper and silver is by far the best ; yet 

 there are times when for days together scarcely a fish 

 will be caught on these baits. A beginner should have 

 his first set of tackle made by a thoroughly reliable 

 man, who will put on a good general selection of baits, 

 and he should not move his baits until experience has 

 taught him when and how to do so. 



The speed at which the troller rows his boat should 



not be more than one-and-a-half miles per hour, and some 



' troMers go little over one mile per hour. 



Speed Another important point is the portion of 



Trolling tne ^ a ^ e to ^ e nsne ^- The neophyte should 



notice where the other char fishers are, and row 



towards them ; in fact, it will often pay to keep the lines 



in the boat until professional fishermen are sighted. 



