120 COARSE FISH. 



of the " Wagtail " when spinning for perch, a trout, a 

 perch, and a chub, pretty good evidence of the 

 killing powers of the bait 



Legering is a good plan in floods or thick water ; 

 Leger- ground-baiting with a handful or two of 

 in & broken lobworms. As the tackle is fine, the 

 weight should run on the running line, and not on 

 the gut, or the latter will soon be frayed through 

 or at least scratched. I like brown-stained gut 

 and hook-lengths, and generally keep the bait about 

 two feet from the bullet, somewhat further in 

 straight runs. Another method, that is not quite 

 legering, pays well in weirs when the water is low, 

 but can only be practised where the bottom is 

 unobstructed. Put half a dozen large shot, about 

 six inches apart, on a six-foot gut cast, the lowest 

 shot a foot from the bait, which may be a minnow 

 or worm. Run the bait down in the foam of the 

 weir fall, and let it travel about freely, just keeping 

 it in touch on the rod-top. The line often draws 

 towards the weir when it has gone a little down 

 stream, the effect of the undercurrent. 

 Do not stop the bait as it works back, 

 for it is working into a most likely spot 

 for perch, while chub or barbel are fre- 

 quently picked up in this way, and 

 occasionally an unlucky trout. The 

 bite of a fish is easily felt ; and if you 

 get hold of a barbel, you will experience 

 grand sport on the fine tackle. 

 FLY-SPOON. Fly- Fishing with a fly-spoon is de- 



spoon scribed in chub-fishing (p. 89). 

 I have had good sport with perch in the same way, 

 or with a very small " Wagtail " on strong gut. 



