io8 COARSE FISH. 



My favourite spot is a deep hole, an eddy for 

 . preference, with a sandy bottom. Very 

 deep places should be fished with a traveller 

 float and heavy tackle. Flounders bite very sharply 

 and quickly, with a sort of double knock : this is, I 

 think, the seizing and turning of the shrimp. Do 

 not strike at the bob-bob immediately, but allow 

 just a little time ; the first half dozen fish will show 

 you exactly the time to allow, and you will soon 

 find whether you hook the fish properly. If the 

 hook is deep down, strike sooner ; if the fish are 

 lightly hooked, allow a little law. 



The time for fishing depends on the state of tide, 

 situation, &c. I have done best on windy days, 

 fishing from a quarter to half-flood in sheltered 

 spots. Some situations can be fished at all times 

 of tide, but flood tide is generally better than the 

 ebb. Crabs are a great nuisance, more especially 

 when lugworm is used for bait : they drag the float 

 under in much the same manner as a fish, but in a 

 side-long fashion. Should you get a few bites of 

 this description, and be puzzled why you do not hook 

 fish, lift the line quietly at the next bite ; the tug 

 of a fish is plainly felt, but a crab is a dead weight 

 on the rod. Crabs may easily be lifted ashore if 

 you do not jerk the line ; never let one go in again 

 that you can put the heel of your boot on. 



Large flounders play very heavily ; they cannot 

 therefore be lifted on fine tackle, so use a long- 

 handled landing-net with a very wide hoop. It is 

 not unusual to catch fifty large fish on a tide, or 

 even half a tide ; but fine tackle must be used, for 

 I have had men fishing on either side of me who 

 did not take a single flounder on their very coarse 

 tackle, while I got one at absolutely every swim. 



