474 PRACTICAL LESSONS IN THE GENTLE CRAFT. 



these baits consists in the exact angle at which the tail is 

 bent They are sold, I fancy, with the tails fashioned 

 sheer across, and this won't spin, or anything approaching 

 it. The tail should be bent slightly over with the thumb 

 and ringers of the right hand until it assumes a very gentle 

 downward sweep or angle from slightly below the point or 

 root of the dorsal fin to about the line of the ventral fin, or 

 where the ventral fin should be. With this bait I have 

 killed many good fish, both in the Thames and Kennet, a 

 few years ago, and I shall try them again with certainly 

 renewed confidence. 



In casting, I think nothing will beat the good old- 

 fashioned Thames plan, of holding a coil of line in the left 

 hand, and throwing from that, save it may be that the 

 stream is sufficiently heavy and strong to permit the use of 

 a heavy lead, and then one can throw from the reel best 

 plan of all. In any event, have no loose line about either 

 the bottom of the punt, or on your knees, if sitting on the 

 weir beam with your legs dangling over in space. The end, in 

 the event of a run, may be summed up in one sentence, viz., 

 total loss of temper, and the continued and frequent use 

 of a word which distinguishes say the mother of a thorough- 

 bred foal, for the rest of that day on every possible or 

 impossible opportunity. Remember that the least possible 

 movement of the bait is sufficient. Do not let it remain 

 stationary, or spinning in one position long together, 

 because to the discriminating eye of an old and judiciously 

 educated trout, particularly of the order Triitta Tamesis, 

 such a course of procedure would look odd, to say the least 

 of it. Rather work it slowly and very gently in and out 

 and round about every little eddy and curl, and quickly 

 across those dark, oily-looking patches between foamy 

 runs. 



