THE CAEP. 51 



if you have any plumbing of the depth to do, to do it the 

 night before fishing, so as not to disturb the bottom. 

 Two or three pieces of rush make an efficient float for this 

 purpose, a half hitch or two being taken at either end of 

 them ; and, as this is a very common object on ponds, it 

 does not challenge the observation that a brilliant red, 

 green, and white float does. Casting the bullet and bait 

 out to the required spot, draw the float and bullet gently 

 along a little, so as to tighten the line and to extend the 

 bait straight out along the bottom from the bullet. You 

 may then lay the rod down on a forked stick, as you will 

 easily see by the float any nibble, and have plenty of time 

 to recover the rod before the bite takes place. 



Never strike while a carp only nibbles. Wait till he 

 drags the float steadily under, and appears to be going 

 away with it ; when, seeing all clear and in order about 

 the line and reel for a rush, you may hit him smartly, and 

 if he is a big one " look out for squalls " as his mouth 

 is very tough and leathery, you may play him firmly. 

 Get him away as soon as possible from your pitch, so as 

 not to frighten the rest, and land him as far from the 

 pitch as you can. Then come back to the pitch, quietly 

 throw in a handful or two of ground bait, and follow up 

 with the hook as before, and probably in ten minutes or a 

 quarter of an hour, if the fish are well on, you may see 

 your rush float " niggle-niggling " again. The best 

 ground bait, of course, for this work is boiled potato. If 

 fishing a pond, always bait two, or even three spots, if you 

 can ; so that, when the fish are rather alarmed at one, 

 you can rest it and go to another casting in a few hand- 

 fuls of bait before you leave, to draw them back again. 

 Always fish from the shore, too, if you can, as carp are shy 

 of a boat, and any motion of the water easily alarms them. 



E 2 



