80 BOTTOM FISHING. 



the fish do not share ; consequently, are not so easily 

 to be duped through its medium. 



In clear water the gut used should be either stained 

 a faint sky-blue, so as to offer no lighter or darker 

 contrast to its background, or be left a transparent 

 tint undistinguishable in the water. Some rivers are 

 habitually clear, others slightly this or that shade. 

 The hue of the gut line should in each individual 

 case tally. Our ancestors used sorrel, brown, and 

 white, or even black hair ; but when used under 

 similar circumstances with gut prepared as above, 

 the tender, hollow hair is found far behind the age. 

 We have, however, dealt already fully with the 

 relative virtues of gut and hair. 



Bottom reels are made of almost every conceivable 

 variety and substance. We are inclined to give 

 preference to the Nottingham spring check. This 

 check or " click" action is put on at will by a move- 

 able spring, something after the style of the old 

 spring stop reels. In the varying methods of angling 

 now followed, a tool that can be regulated to any 

 degree of action required is far preferable to a set 

 contrivance, admitting of no alteration at will. 

 These winches are now made with steel centres. 



