366 PIKE AND OTHER COARSE FISH. 



of a few grains of boiled wheat scattered about, will usually 

 suffice to keep a good quantity of fish about the boat. Another 

 ground-bait is barley meal and flour, using a stiff paste made 

 of the same mixture to bait the hook with. Cast the ground- 

 bait in close to the boat, as it is sure to roll down the slope 

 further into the stream. The distance up or down depends of 

 course upon the strength of the tide. During the summer the 

 most killing hook-baits are well boiled wheat and pure bread 

 worked cleanly into a stiff paste, either left white or coloured 

 red. In such clear waters as the Waveney and the upper 

 waters of the Bure white paste is the best, but on the Yare the 

 red always kills the best fish. In the autumn use gentles, and 

 later on brandlings and gentles, or, better still, small red ' blood ' 

 worms. Many other baits are used with occasional great suc- 

 cess, but the above are by far the most generally serviceable. 



The rod in general use is a light stiff cane one from fifteen 

 to eighteen feet in length, though for running tackle a shorter 

 rod will do. Running tackle is, however, seldom used, except 

 on very shallow streams, where it is necessary to fish at a dis- 

 tance from the boat. It is a moot point whether running tackle 

 has any advantage over the tight line, a little longer than the 

 rod, which it is the usual practice to have. Some experienced 

 anglers aver that for such deep strong waters as those between 

 Coldham Hall and Reedham running tackle is decidedly to be 

 preferred, while for the slower waters of the Bure and the upper 

 reaches of the Yare it has no advantages worth naming. It 

 therefore appears to be a matter of choice which should be 

 used. The line which is fancied is a light plaited silk, with six 

 feet of moderately stout gut and three feet of fine-drawn stained 

 gut attached to it. A light, well-shotted line of this kind has 

 many advantages, especially on a windy day. The float is a 

 quill one, varying in size according to the depth of water, 

 strength of tide, and wind. For deep swift waters a large 

 pelican or swan quill is used ; for slower and shallower waters 

 the finest porcupine quiil. The plan which has been in vogue 

 with the Norwich school of anglers for many years past is to 



