62 BOTTOM FISHING IN THE NOTTINGHAM STYLE. 



for scratching fishing, and the locust tackle. An old friend 

 of mine, when he prepares his pith for the hook, never washes 

 it very clean, but leaves it what he calls " a bit streaky." 

 " Should you recommend the pith to be boiled same as the 

 brains 1 " said I to him one day. " Boiled ? not likely," he 

 replied. " I tried that little game once, and spoilt a whole 

 set ; no boiling for me, but only just skinned, and washed 

 not quite so much as you wash yours, for I believe the chub 

 likes it best when it is a bit streaky." 



This opinion, coming from a man of his great and varied 

 experience, is worth careful consideration, but still, for all 

 that, I like it washed white. I might just mention that I 

 have found chub, when using this bait, in all the places that 

 I have described a page or two back in wasp-grub fishing ; 

 but at this season they are more particularly found in deep 

 holes under the boughs, or in quiet deep eddies not far from 

 the bank and away from the main current ; and another thing 

 I must say as a caution, and that is, use this bait very care- 

 fully, don't strike at every swim to jerk it off the hook, and 

 when you take the old bait off to put a fresh one on, don't 

 throw it in the water, but leave it on the bank, because we 

 think that a reckless use of this bait soon spoils the swim. 



With regard to the hook for this pith fishing for chub, I 

 might just mention that a friend of mine tried the new double 

 hook the other week, and his report is most favourable. He 

 says that the pith is easier put on, and is not so liable to be 

 washed off, besides hooking and holding the fish much better. 

 I must say, however, that I have always done well with the 

 single hook ; still, I must mention these facts, and then the 

 angler can try all sorts, and finally adopt that which he finds 

 the best. 



This is a clinking bait to use in the depth of winter, when 

 the snow lies deep on the ground, and when the thermometer 

 indicates a few degrees below freezing-point Indeed, I 

 think it is nearly useless to try it unless there is a little frost. 

 I have taken fish with it from November round to March, 

 but if you want a change of bait during the winter you can 

 try the flat wriggling tail of a nicely scoured lob-worm. Chub 

 do not, as a rule, bite freely at a worm during a frost, how- 



