90 COARSE FISH. 



and following the float, a little groundbait being 

 thrown in here and there. It is best to use a twelve - 

 or fourteen-foot rod, so long as it is not too heavy, 

 as this gives better command of the water from the 

 bank. I get good fish from the tail ends of weirs 

 in the summer, throwing out with heavy tackle 

 from the side and baiting with cherries or lobworms, 

 both of which stick on well in the heavy water. 

 The stream in these places is very rapid ; the float 

 requires the most careful watching, and the depth 

 has to be found out by experience, mostly gained by 

 the loss of tackle. Very long swims can be worked 

 from the bank in favourable places, but it is difficult 

 to play a fish when fishing over boughs, and many 

 a " smash up " may be expected if your tackle be 

 weak. In narrow streams, where the opposite side 

 can be reached in a cast, there is a much better 

 chance, as the fish can be pulled away from the 

 boughs ; whereas, in the other case, he usually 

 comes in underneath them, and has to be pulled 

 out again ; one good reason for using a long rod 

 from the bank. It is such uncomfortable work fish- 

 ing over bushes that I seldom try it unless I can find 

 a spot where I can immediately pull my fish out of 

 danger. In trying frogs or beetles on the surface, 

 you cannot be too quiet, and I much prefer to get 

 at a chub from a long distance ; however, as there 

 are places where chub cannot be reached except 

 by daping over bushes, I advise fishing with a long 

 rod, painted dark green, as dull as possible, to avoid 

 glitter. Use strong gut and running line ; twist a 

 little soft lead wire about two feet above the hook, 

 which will steady your bait when lowered, and will 

 help to run the line off the winch. Dabble your 

 bait about on the surface if it be a cockchafer. 



