122 BOTTOM FISHING IN THE NOTTINGHAM STYLE. 



I have heard of anglers fastening bones at -egular distances 

 on a cord, by way of an attraction for the perch. I should 

 suppose the bones have a supply of meat on them, and Jiave 

 not been picked clean. A first-class angler says they are a 

 capital attraction for perch ; I, personally, cannot say, for I 

 never tried the scheme, and so cannot speak from experience 

 on that matter. The artificial minnow is sometimes spun, 

 but I think it is like spinning the natural one — a very sorry 

 business. If you must have an artificial bait for perch, per- 

 haps Mr. Gregory's " Clipper " would be as good as any, for 

 I have caught one or two on it. Spinning for perch, how- 

 ever, is not very profitable. Where perch abound the "v^orm 

 and the minnow worked as I have described will be found 

 all that is required. I have heard that perch are taken in 

 some districts with an artificial fly, but I have never seen 

 one caught with a fly, nor have I caught one myself. I am 

 told that a big showy fly is the best, and that it does not 

 matter about the pattern, as the perch are not very par- 

 ticular. I have used big showy flies for chub and in places 

 where I have taken perch with worm, but not a single perch 

 has yet taken my fly. 



