94 COARSE FISH. 



I have stated that a longer rod should be used 

 General f r bank-fishing. In most bank-swims the 

 hints lovely straight pull on your float cannot be 

 obtained with the same facility as in punt-fishing : 

 the rod is more at an angle with the stream. This 

 tends to lessen the force of the strike, so the extra 

 length is extremely useful ; it adds to the length of 

 the strike, and considerable force is required to 

 pick up a long line cleanly and neatly. A long 

 rod is also better for legering in side swims under 

 bushes. 



In traveller-float-fishing, nip on one shot to the 

 running line just above, or at, the knot where the 

 gut is tied, which keeps the tiny ring on the 

 bottom of the float from jamming or sticking on 

 the knot ; if this is attended to, much annoyance 

 will be avoided. 



Almost every swim requires special shotting of 

 tackle ; do not put the shot on all together in one 

 place for the heavy runs ; spread them apart, in 

 twos, threes and fours, the lesser numbers nearer 

 the bait. 



Although it is rare to get more than two chub 

 out of one swim in a short while, such luck is not 

 unknown. After a very wet day I tried for chub 

 in some places that were usually disturbed by 

 boats. The wet weather had kept the river quiet, 

 and I got fifteen good chub out of half a dozen 

 short swims. Trying the same swims when the 

 boats are about has proved almost useless. Much 

 to my astonishment, I once caught a large chub in 

 shallow water when three launches were passing at 

 considerable speed, the wash from the three raising 

 quite a little sea on the river. I was baiting with 



