260 PIKE AND OTHER COARSE FISH. 



reaches, not too much acted upon by the current ; also under 

 such very rapid streams as mill tails, weir pools, and the like. 

 The best time for fishing in the largo, deep eddies or back waters 

 is from October to January, as into these, especially after a flood, 

 the perch are swept by the current. Such spots abound on the 

 Thames and most large rivers, and I have mentioned already 

 instances in which, with another rod to assist, I killed with the 

 paternoster in such a backwater on the Thames some twelve 

 dozen perch in a few hours. 



For summer paternostering, on the contrary, weirs and 

 rapids and rushes of water under which the perch congregate to 

 scour and brace themselves after spawning will be found the 

 best localities. 



I used the word under advisedly, because the chance of em- 

 ploying the minnow and paternoster effectually in such positions 

 is the dropping it through the rush of surface water and getting 

 the minnows into the comparatively quiet undercurrents or back 

 tows. It is not uncommon on the Thames, when using the 

 paternoster, especially in winter, to add a third hook dressed on 

 gimp and baited with gudgeon or small dace for the chance of 

 coming across a jack, and this will be found a very good plan to 

 adopt in waters where the latter fish are known to be abundant. 



It remains to describe the modus opcrandi of paternoster- 

 ing. The rod should be a longish one and moderately pliant, 

 (say such a spinning rod as is described at page 10, with the 

 longest top) and the tackle arranged according to the instruc- 

 tions given as above, and baited with two minnows or small 

 gudgeon, the leaded line should be dropped under the point of 

 the rod or gently swung out into the spot it is desired to fish, 

 and the lead allowed to rest on the bottom. The line between 

 the lead and the point of the rod should always be kept ' taut,' 

 in order that the bite, which is perceived only by the touch, 

 may be more readily detected and the probability of hooking 

 increased. When a bite is perceived the bait should not be 

 pulled up immediately ; on the contrary, it is better to drop the 

 point of the rod slightly so as to slacken the line a very little, 



