FISHING AT HOME AND ABROAD 



GROUND -BAIT AND BAITS 



I could fill a long chapter with receipts for ground -baits and baits for 

 roach, rudd, etc., but it is unnecessary — ^they are practically all useless 

 when the fish are not feeding, and when they are feeding there are none 

 better than those I shall mention, with which I have had good sport in 

 waters containing roach and rudd in all parts of the country. Take a pint 

 measure of pollard (coarse meal used for feeding fowls, etc.), one pound 

 of boiled potatoes, one pint of bran and the crumb of half of a half -quartern 

 stale loaf of bread, soak the bread by dipping it, in a cloth, in warm water, 

 then squeezing out the water by twisting the cloth, as described in making 

 paste for chub. Mix all the ingredients in a large basin or clean zinc pail, 

 then add water as you stir them round, and so gradually work all up 

 into a sort of stiff pudding. If you find you have put in too much water 

 add some more bran. When you have got it into a nice even consistency, 

 not too dry and not too wet, make it up into balls the size of an orange. 

 A clean zinc pail with some bran in the bottom is a good way to carry 

 it when fishing from a punt or boat. A strong brown paper bag is as good 

 as anything for carrying your ground -bait in your fishing bag or creel. 

 It is worse than useless to use old ground -bait which has gone sour, as it 

 drives the fish away instead of attracting them. 



In making up ground -bait the point to remember is that the quieter the 

 water you are to fish the less need there is for the ground -bait to be stiff 

 and heavy — ^you want something which will sink and then soon get soft 

 in the water and break up. In a strongish stream, such as one often fishes 

 in the Thames or Hampshire Avon or Stour, of course a stiffer, heavier 

 ground-bait is necessary. 



This ground -bait — sometimes putting a few bits of the paste you are 

 to use for hook bait, or a few gentles, or small redworms into a ball 

 before you throw it in — ^I have found as good as any for all kinds of fish. 

 I do not think it is necessary or advisable to add scents or fiavourings, 

 almost the only exception I would make is that when tench fishing 

 and using this ground -bait — ^I buy three pennyworth of spirit of tar — it 

 is like water with a strong tar smell, and should be kept off one's fingers. 

 I put about one drop on each ball of ground -bait, and, from experience, 

 I think it helps to attract the tench, which are often hidden away in the 

 weeds, and would perhaps not notice the plain ground -bait at all. I got 

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