56 BOTTOM FISHING. 



the hook above; this will riot fail to "fetch" the 

 most finiking of the finny race in question. Upon 

 hooking a fish, the chief consideration must be how 

 to extract him without damage to the swim, dash 

 and bustle being highly unfavourable to the situation, 

 therefore the capture must be consummated as soon 

 as is compatible with the general weal. A judicious 

 change of situation is the best thing under the 

 circumstances, therefore when this can be carried 

 out effectually, the fish may be quietly landed in 

 some secluded side-spot away from the baited swim. 



The persistent voracity of bleak, where they are 

 numerous, is often very annoying to the roach fisher. 

 These small fish, locating near the surface of the 

 water, absorb the lure before it comes within the 

 ken of the portly roach. The effect of this is the 

 more tantalizing when fishing with gentles, or grain 

 of any description. When this petty larceny is going 

 on, resort must be had to the following expedients. 

 Get a fair-sized piece of paste or clay, bell shaped, 

 the hollow of which must be filled up with dry bran. 

 This should then be attached to the hook and slowly 

 let down. The bran will gradually escape as it sinks, 

 the bright atoms of which, as they are carried down- 

 stream, attract the small fry after them. When clay 

 or paste the latter is preferable, as it will serve a 

 double purpose in dispersing the bleak and forming 

 ground bait for the roach is not handy, a handful 

 of bran thrown in the water will have the desired 

 effect, though somewhat temporary in its character. 

 To reach the roach at the bottom of a still deep 



