TRENT PISHING. 43 



from the reel, that is in a manner somewhat similar to that 

 of jack spinning. He winds up the line until the float 

 nearly touches the top ring of his rod, and then gives it the 

 desired swing over the river. I have seen baits cast by this 

 means thirty, or even more yards. This plan is chiefly used 

 in barbel fishing, and the swim is a good distance from the 

 bank, and I shall touch upon it, as well as on ledgering and 

 plumbing in the chapter on barbel. I ought to just men- 

 tion that when the slider float is used, the little piece of line 

 that is knotted in the line should be so contrived that it will 

 run with freedom through the rings of the rod, so that when 

 winding up or playing a fish, it does not catch. The diffe- 

 rent baits used in bottom fishing, when and how to use 

 them, will be fully explained in the chapters on the different 

 fish. 



I have now, I believe, described the outfit and the general 

 modus operandi of the Nottingham bottom fisher. He is 

 not beholden to punts and puntsmen for his sport ; he can 

 wander along the banks, select his swims, and fish them in 

 the deadly and scientific style I have been attempting to 

 portray. He pursues his avocation amid scenes of natural 

 beauty ; he follows the windings of the river, and becomes 

 acquainted with its course. He knows the solitude of its 

 silent depths and the brilliancy of its shallows ; he is con- 

 fined to no seasons ; he salutes Nature with the budding 

 spring, the rustling leaves make music in his ear before the 

 mist has rolled from the water, or the dew been kissed from 

 the grass by the rays of the sun. He throws his line when 

 ruddy autumn, with its wealth of fruit, hangs heavy on the 

 bough, or the .corn-fields wave in golden abundance on the 

 slopes of the uplands, the storm and the tempest scarcely 

 check him, and he can pursue his sport when winter's winds 

 blow cold over the meadows, and the trees glitter like dia- 

 monds, with a wealth of hoar frost. If he is an ardent 

 sportsman, he cares not for the rude blasts of winter, for 

 now is the time for pike and chub ; he can tramp over the 

 snow to his sport with as much zest as though the meadows 

 were clad in the gayest garb, and when the big pike seizes 

 the glittering spinning bait, and when the thin, tapering 



