146 BOTTOM FISHING IN THE NOTTINGHAM STYLE. 



The gudgeon (Cyprinus Gobio) is another member of the carp 

 tribe, and a nice-looking little fellow he is; in shape something 

 like a barbel. The top jaw hangs over the bottom one, and looks 

 very much adapted for rooting among the sand. Like the 

 barbel he has a beard at each corner of the mouth. Six or 

 seven inches is its extreme length, but that size is by no means 

 common. He spawns about May, and it is some time before 

 he gets into condition : about August and September are 

 the best months to take this fish. He is a very toothsome 

 morsel, if fried crisp with egg and bread crumbs. A light 

 rod, reel, line, and tackle are used for his capture. His haunts 

 are in rather rapid shallow waters that flow over a gravelly or 

 sandy bottom. The bait is a small worm, the tail end of a 

 brandling or cockspur on a small hook is best ; and the bait 

 must trip along the bottom. The float and tackle recommended 

 for dace fishing in a stream will be right for the gudgeon, but 

 the hook must be a size or two smaller. The worm should be 

 threaded on the hook so that no loose ends hang about, or he 

 wiU pull and bother you like a tiny eel. If the water is very 

 clear, a rake is used in some places to stir up the sand and 

 make a rather thick water ; the gudgeon then flock together 

 there, and are then sometimes pulled out very rapidly. 

 I have seen anglers doing what they call " muddling for 

 gudgeon." They take off their shoes and stockings, and roll 

 up their trousers to the thigh, and shufflle about the sandy 

 shallows with their feet, and then with rod and tackle fish 

 among the discoloured water. This plan is adopted if the 

 water be not above two feet deep, but a heavy iron rake is 

 the best. Owing to the fact that these fish take so little 

 skill to catch them, it is a favourite sport with the ladies in 

 various districts where the fish abound. 



A poem of Hood's, entitled the " Angler's Lament," con- 

 tains the following lines : — 



