CHAR-FISHING 



No account of fishing in the English Lake 

 District at the present time would be quite com- 

 plete without some mention of Char. A separate 

 description is necessary, because these fish seldom 

 rise to a fly, and, when they are not netted, are 

 usually caught by Trolling, which is differently 

 managed at different times of the year. 



The Plumb-line. Early in the season, that is to 

 say in the end of March and during April and the 

 first weeks of May, the Char are found very deep, 

 in about ninety feet of water. It is necessary then 

 to use the plumb-line, though difficult to manage. 



You have about 40 yards of strong fine line, six- 

 thread, with a pound and a half of lead, pear- 

 shaped, at the end. The plumb has sometimes a 

 wing or fin of tin inserted to prevent its spinning 

 and twisting the line. To this plumb-line you 

 attach at different depths half a dozen gut lines, 

 with 3 or 4 swivels on each ; they should be of 

 salmon gut, as they have occasionally to bear 

 very considerable strain. The lowest gut line is 

 about three yards long ; the highest about five. 

 In this way you will be sure to hit the right depth 

 for the fish. 



The plumb-line is carried by a stout rod, about 

 ten feet long, fixed into the stern of the boat. The 

 country fishermen cut their own rods of ash ; they 

 then tie about three yards of twine to the top, and 



