64 THE STATIONARY BAIT. 



the least check or stop of the line the angler should strike, 

 not too heavily, but with a drag to overcome any loose or 

 bagged line ; and if the angler can manage to master this 

 rather difficult method thoroughly, he will find that he 

 will catch many more fish than he does with the float. 

 But the tackle and appliances must all be of the finest, 

 or they hold too much water. A Nottingham reel will be 

 found most useful. 



Barbel are often taken with the lighter appliances 

 used in roach-fishing, and excellent sport is thus enjoyed. 

 Should the angler use greaves or cheese as a bait, no 

 change in the style of fishing is needed, save that the 

 cheese should not be permitted to drag on the ground, 

 or it will come off the hook. 



In fishing with a stationary bait, three plans are also 

 adopted. The first is by the use of the ledger, the second 

 by the clay-ball, and the third by a fixed float, called on 

 the Trent * tight-corking.' The ledger is composed of a 

 perforated lead, usually a good-sized bullet, or flat dia- 

 mond-shaped lead if the stream is heavy and likely to 

 roll the bullet over ; through this the line runs freely, a 

 shot being fastened on the line, about two feet above the 

 hook, to prevent the lead from sliding farther down to- 

 wards the hook. (See Plate I. fig. 3, page 11.) The part 

 of the tackle on which the lead plays should be served 

 with silk, and three feet of gut should run between the 

 lead and the hook. 



The hook for ledger-fishing is generally a size or so 

 larger than that used for float- fishing, No. 5 or 6, and is 

 baited with a clean and lively lob-worm ; though greaves 

 and even gentles are sometimes used for a change, worms 

 are the greatest stand-by. In baiting the hook, some 

 people take off the head of the worm, if it be large, pre- 

 ferring only to cover the hook well. I like a whole worm 

 best, however; it lives longer, and is less likely to shift 



