112 BOTTOM FISHING IN THE NOTTINGHAM STYLE. 



pensed with, and a single length of gimp, about two feet long, 

 is used. At the bottom of this, there is an arrangement of 

 hooks, and at the top a loop ; the hooks are generally a tri- 

 angle at the bottom, and a little above it there is whipped a 

 smaller single hook. This small hook is fastened to the 

 fish, at the side near to the back fin, by the help of the bait- 

 ing-needle, and the triangle hangs loose against the side near 

 to the belly of the bait. A double hook is sometimes used 

 instead of a triangle, especially if the water is fine, because 

 the hooks will lie closer to the side of the fish, and the pike 

 not notice them. Another sort of live-bait tackle is made by 

 merely having a double hook on the bottom of the gimp; the 

 baiting-needle is passed under the skin, near to the shoulder 

 of the bait, and brought out a couple of inches lower down, 

 the gimp is then drawn through, until the shank of the hook 

 is under the skin, and the hooks are laid close to the side of 

 the bait. A large float is used with these baits, and is put 

 on the line, and thereafter a running lead which is fastened 

 halfway between the float and the bait. When a pike takes 

 these live baits, I advise you to give him a minute or so to 

 get it well into his mouth, but don't give him time to gorge 

 it, and then strike smartly. A single hook is sometimes 

 hung through the lip of a bleak, or a small dace, by way of 

 a live bait ; but a pike when he takes this bait must have 

 time to gorge. There are several other sorts of snap hooks 

 and Hve-bait tackles that have been introduced to the public, 

 and amongst others an arrangement in which a live bait can 

 be fastened to the tackle by means of india-rubber bands, in- 

 stead of having the hooks stuck in the body of the bait. 

 For that, however, and other inventions, I must refer the 

 angler to the nearest tackle-maker. All sorts of creatures have 

 been recommended as baits for pike, such as frogs, rats, mice, 

 small birds, &c., but I don't much believe in either of them, 

 except, perhaps, the frog. 



