156 THE COMPLETE ANGLEK. 



in earnest : with the same rod and line, but with a barbed hook, baited 

 exactly as before, come behind the hurdle, and, with very light float, 

 angle cautiously. My correspondent acted on my advice, and succeeded 

 in catching as many of the large carp as he wanted. This method can- 

 not be conveniently practised in rivers, unless in parts belonging to the 

 angler. In river-fishing, red worms, gentles, grains, pastes, green peas, 

 and cherries, are used as baits for carp. The foot-line should be of the 

 best round fine gut, and the hook need not be larger than a No. 9. 

 Fish about a foot from the bottom. In fishing with paste, strike quickly 

 but gently ; in fishing with worms or gentles, do not strike until five 

 or six seconds have elapsed after your perception of a bite. Prepared 

 salmon-roe is an excellent bait for carp. 



I shall here give a list of the best angling pastes, and show how they 

 are made. 



Simple paste for dace and roach is made by kneading together, in 

 clean hands, equal quantities of the pith of old and new bread. It must be 

 kneaded until it is perfectly white and tcugh. To render it more adhesive 

 round the hook in rough streams, work up with it a few fibres of raw cotton. 



A coloured paste is made by washing flour in cold water, until the 

 farinaceous particles disappear, and leave behind little more than simple 

 gluten. Colour with vermilion to the hue of salmon-roe, and preserve 

 it for use in balls immersed in water. When angling with it, keep it in 

 a wet bag. 



Sweet paste is an amalgamation of bread crumb and good white 

 honey. Work it into an adhesive mass. Of this paste both Elaine and 

 Salter say, " that it is a most killing bait for carp during the months of 

 July and August, and indeed as long afterwards as the fishing-season 

 lasts. As regards carp, this bait has a very peculiar claim on those 

 anglers who cannot be at their posts early and late, where the carp-fisher 

 ought to be in most cases : this paste obviates, in some measure, that 

 necessity, as it is one of the few baits which carp will take in favourable 

 weather, even at mid-day. Chub may be taken with it sometimes very 

 well, and roach will seldom refuse it." 



Prepared greaves is an excellent bait for barbel, and not a bad one 

 for chub. It is prepared by saturating it in warm water, and working 

 and washing it until it becomes tough and nearly white. A good paste 

 may be made by moistening bread-crumb with the liquor in which the 

 greaves have been softened, and then working the crumb into an adhesive 

 mass. An admixture of a little raw cotton will be an improvement. 



Cheese-paste, for chub and barbel, is made by working soft, pale- 

 coloured cheese and stale bread-crumb together. These last two pastes, 

 with bullock's brains and spinal chord, are the best autumn and winter 

 baits for barbel and chub. 



Ground-baiting will greatly contribute to the success of the bottom- 

 fisher. When you fish with worms, ground-bait overnight with large 

 clay balls, in the interior of which you have placed worms. Do not be 

 sparing of them ; and ever and anon, whilst you are fishing, drop in one 

 of these balls over your baited hook. When fishing with gentles, ground- 

 bait with clay balls filled with gentles. 



