32 BOTTOM FISHING IN THE NOTTINGHAM STYLE. 



able list of articles is sometimes given as being necessary for 

 an angler's outfit, which would suggest the necessity of having 

 a room to itself, in which to store and label the several items, 

 but they, or at least very many of them, are not required. 

 I have given what will be sufficient for every purpose of the 

 bottom fisher. 



Angling, we are told, is becoming more and more a science 

 every day ; fiSh are becoming more scarce, and more difficult 

 to catch, while the sport is becoming more and more popular ; 

 new lines, new hooks, new baits, and tackle are being so con- 

 stantly invented, that they puzzle the most practised angler to 

 become acquainted with them, much more the fish, cunning as 

 they are ; but the fisherman may have one consolation amid 

 all these new inventions, the old skill and the old appliances 

 have not yet lost their charm, but will secure a basket of fish 

 when some of the modern inventions are completely at fault. 

 I have seen good sport obtained with a willow rod, a yard or 

 two of string for a line, and a bit of stick for a float, when 

 the most expensive outfit was useless for the purposes of 

 sport ; attention to minute details are of more value than an 

 expensive outfit. Skill is of a deal more importance than 

 costly tools, and even theory itself is not of much value with- 

 out experience. 



Having now given the outfit of a Nottingham bottom- 

 fisher, it wiU be as well to give some idea as to the method of 

 using it. Now the tyro must bear in mind that the motto of 

 a Nottingham angler is " fine and far off," the chief object 

 being not to let the fish see or hear him if he can help it. If 

 he has not already selected a swim, he walks along the banl^ 

 until he sees a spot that looks likely to yield sport, where the 

 stream is steady and not too strong and which looks about 

 the right depth. The first thing he does is to ascertain how 

 deep it reaUy is. Now, a London angler would drop in a 

 lump of lead, and work it up and down all over the swim, 



