BOTTOM FISHINGK 9 



So that when the angler Bees his float bob under water he 

 may be pretty sure that most of the hook is inside the 

 fish's mouth. 



In float fishing in running water from the bank the 

 angler keeps the top of the rod immediately above the 

 float, and so follows it all down his swim, so as to be 

 able to strike truly and at once, and thus he seldom 

 has or wants more than two or three feet at the most between 

 his rod-point and his float. The rod should be as long 

 as he can comfortably use, but it must be comparatively 

 light, as there is no putting the rod down at this kind of 

 fishing ; it must be poised the whole time ; and many a 

 time has my arm ached up to the shoulder and my hand 

 grown numb with holding one of these long cane rods 

 common to the Lea. These rods are used of a prodigious 

 length in some instances, even to two or three and twenty 

 feet and when the size of the fish taken with them is con- 

 sidered, it looks as if the angler were using the mast of a 

 young fishing smack ; I shall notice them in " roach 

 fishing." In this matter the angler must suit himself to 

 his own convenience and powers. For ordinary bank fishing 

 from twelve to fifteen feet will be found quite long enough. 

 For punt or boat fishing from ten to twelve feet is ample. In 

 choosing a swim the fisherman will be guided by circum- 

 stances, such as the time of year, the state of the water, the 

 kind of fish he wants to catch, and so forth matters 

 which all materially affect his choice. 



Some fish lie in much heavier and swifter streams 

 than others, and some in eddies altogether, while in 

 clear water the calm deep-running waters hold the fish, 

 and in a flood they are found in great eddies close under 

 the banks. Experience either of his own or of some 

 friend will determine all this for him. If, however, he 



