THE PERCH. 119 



paternoster-tackle, but it is occasionally employed 

 in pond-fishing, where the bottom is fairly level. 

 The depth must be adjusted till the float stands 

 upright, sunk to about an inch from the top. If 

 you throw into water that is too deep and the float 

 disappears, the lead must be drawn towards you till 

 the float is seen properly. When using a float, the 

 rod can rest on the ground, or on a forked stick, 

 should the angler wish it 



Spinning for perch is the prettiest method of all 

 The ten-foot greenheart rod described in spin- 

 chub-fishing (p. 70) is an excellent rod nin 

 for spinning with light tackle, in conjunction with 

 fine gut tackle throughout, one or two swivels 

 and a four-foot, single gut trace above the bait. 

 The flights for natural bait must be small in 

 proportion, a lip-hook and two triangles will do 

 well for minnow-baiting, all the hooks being tied 

 on gut, not gimp. The natural baits for spinning 

 are minnows, small gudgeon, sprats or bleak. Use 

 a very light, free-running winch and fine running 

 line ; strike. directly a bite is felt, in the same way 

 in which the bait is travelling, keeping as straight a 

 line on the fish as possible, and not throwing the 

 rod up at another angle. The line should pull 

 straight, from rod-top to fish. There are many 

 artificial baits ; my own fancy is a small " Wagtail." 

 I have repeatedly watched perch follow the 

 spinning bait for some distance, the back fin of the 

 fish being raised ; and when perch follow the bait 

 like this, it should be dropped to them, slackening 

 the speed, when, should the perch not see the 

 angler, the bait is generally taken. I once took 

 three fish of different sorts in three successive casts 



