HOW TO USE FLOATS. 225 



eaves-dropping of a float. A float, however, is a 

 safe appendage and to be surely relied upon. 

 Notwithstanding, I advise the learner to angle 

 frequently without one, and to depend on the 

 sharpness of his eye and the sensitiveness of his 

 hand. If he does, he will be always able to angle 

 with a very light float an immense advantage 

 and to distinguish the slightest fish-pull upon it. 

 Never allow your float to drag in the water. 

 It should sit perpendicularly in it, and the line 

 should rise straight up from it to the point of the 

 rod, which should hang, whenever it is possible, 

 right over it. The advice in the last sentence is 

 important. Neglect it, and you will seldom strike 

 successfully. I have been in the habit of see- 

 ing persons angling with their floats slanting 

 in the water, or lying loosely upon it, with the 

 line slack or coiled, 'and of course I used to see 

 them miss seven out of every ten fish they struck 

 at. Their baits would be frequently nibbled off 

 without their being conscious of it at the time. 



In bottom-fishing you must strike promptly 

 with a sharp jerk of the wrist towards you, in- 

 clining your hand generally a little to the right. 

 If you miss your fish and find that in striking you 

 have jerked your bait out of the water, conclude 

 that you have struck with unnecessary force, 

 injuring and loosening thereby the bait on your 

 hook, and causing more pother in the water than 

 Q 



