THE BREAM. 37 



at all particular in their feeding. I have fished in 

 the midst of a shoal of big bream, in such . 

 shallow water that I could see every fish, and 

 for a long while have been unable to tempt them, 

 ringing the changes on redworms, gentles, paste, 

 wheat or lobworms. Suddenly, I have found a bait 

 they like, and have had good sport. A change to 

 brandlings on one occasion produced a very heavy 

 catch indeed ; this was in a well-baited pitch in 

 Ormesby Broad. I could not see my fish, but 

 having baited carefully, was pretty certain they 

 were there. In clear water, I frequently find bread- 

 paste is better than anything, and a little aniseed 

 in the paste sometimes tempts the fish. In a list 

 of baits, paste, brandlings, gentles, redworms, wasp- 

 grub, boiled wheat and caddis may be mentioned, 

 the last named being particularly good. This 

 caddis is really an amusing and interesting little 

 fellow ; before he develops into a sedge, or similar 

 fly (not Mayfly), he clothes his nakedness in a most 

 beautiful suit of tiny sticks or similar substances, 

 and crawls about the bed of the stream with only 

 his head and legs protruding. By stripping off this 

 " case " you find a grub, which is an excellent bait 

 for many fish. It is a most comical sight to see 

 numbers of caddis crawling about ; a small net of 

 coarse muslin will assist you to get a canful, and 

 they are well worth the trouble. Bleak are ravenous 

 for these caddis, and it is well to remember this 

 when you want a trout-bait. Many years ago I 

 was told by an angler that by dipping a hooked 

 worm in asafcetida he had a grand take of bream. 

 This I have not tried, but give the hint to any one 

 who may like to do so. 



I have two rods which I use for bank-fishing for 



