72 DAYS AMONG THE PIKE AND PERCH 



until it has fined down somewhat ; if you can see your 

 artificial when sunk a foot below the surface, then there 

 is a chance. Try all the quieter corners and lay-byes, 

 letting the bait sink deep down and spinning home no 

 faster than is really necessary. Taking it all round, the 

 Trent fishes very well with an artificial when it is moderately 

 clear ; but it is a wide river, and a good volume of water 

 generally running. 



In quieter waters like the Ouse and Nene, and similar 

 rivers, I found it best for spinning an artificial when the 

 water was on the rise, and once or twice I have had heavy 

 bags when it has been too thick to see the spoon if sunk 

 eighteen inches below the surface. During the late sum- 

 mer and early autumn, when the water is very clear, 

 almost the only chance you have to pick up a fish by spin- 

 ning an artificial is just after sunset, immediately before 

 the dusk of evening creeps down on you. I have had some 

 of my best fish under these conditions. 



A splendid place to try an artificial is in the rough and 

 broken water at the foot of a weir, particularly if large 

 stones and sunken trees break the force of the stream, 

 and eddies are formed behind. If the frothing waters keep 

 churning round and round, and you think there is hardly 

 room to get a bait in, have a try ; there might be a specimen 

 lurking under the shadow of those big stones. I was very 

 partial to all those streams and eddies that curl round and 

 round from the tail of a weir. 



The same trace and drop lead that I recommend for 

 spinning a natural bait will do for an artificial, only when 

 the water is clouded, and weeds and roots are plentiful, 

 I should use them rather stouter than usual. 



Just a few words on another much-discussed question, 

 and that is what wind and weather are likely to be the best 

 for sport with an artificial. Some men prefer a gale of 

 wind, when the water is rolled up in miniature waves, 

 caused by the wind chopping up stream. Certainly I 

 have had sport under these conditions, but then, on the 



