70 GUDGEON, BLEAK, <fcc. 



hundred at the bottom of clear rivers ; delighting in a sharp 

 stream from two to five feet deep with a gravelly bottom. 

 Use the same Rod and Tackle as for Roach ; it is better to 

 have a winch and running line, in case of large Perch or 

 Barbel working into the swim. 



The best baits are blood worms and small bright red 

 worms. Before you begin fishing, it is usual to rake the 

 swim with an iron rake fastened to a long pole. By doing 

 this, the water is coloured, and small worms and insects are 

 stirred up, by loosening the gravelly sand ; the gudgeon, 

 instinctively, swim towards the spot and take the bait. As 

 they cease biting use the rake again, and continuing in this 

 manner you may take nearly every fish in the swim. Plumb 

 the depth before you commence, and let the bait just touch 

 the ground. When baiting with blood worms, put two on 

 the hook ; they require very careful handling when doing so, 

 as they are apt to fall to pieces ; when using red worms, 

 bait with the tail end, leaving as little as possible loose. 



When fishing from a punt, it will be unnecessary to use 

 the rake again as long as the gudgeon continue biting. If 

 they cease doing so and do not come on again after raking 

 the ground, try a fresh swim. Continual raking and change 

 of ground being requisite to secure successful Gudgeon 

 fishing. I once caught one hundred Gudgeons in one hour 

 from one swim; this was in the Thames in 1858; being 

 short of Jack-baits I was compelled to catch them with a 

 rod and line ; it was sharp work, the swim was about two 

 feet deep, and the Gudgeons well on the feed, taking the 

 bait as soon it was in the water ; I used the tail half of a 

 red worm threadled securely on the hook ; by this means I 

 could generally take a dozen before requiring a fresh bait. 



} LEAK are found in immense numbers in the Thames, 

 Lea, and several other rivers ; they are a lively, bril- 

 liant fish somewhat like a Sprat in size and colour ; 

 _ ^ and easily taken with a small fly at the top of the 

 water or with a gentle or paste at midwater or towards the 

 bottom. The Roach fisher is often annnoyed by a small 

 shoal of Bleak making their way into his swim, attracted by 



