ARTIFICIAL GENTLES. 249 



gentle-hook, No. 8, or 9., a pair of wings. A 

 very slight ginger hackle-feather is the best for 

 the purpose. After it is on, cover the remainder 

 of the hook with a tough, well-scoured gentle. 

 Whip with this, but not violently, and the dace 

 will rise eagerly at it. It is more than probable 

 that the roach will take it best when it is sunk some 

 inches, or even a foot or more below the surface." 



The above bait can be well imitated artificially. 

 Tie on delicately a pair of wings from the land- 

 rail's reddest feather, and imitate the gentle by a 

 body made of a little strip of bright yellow very 

 fine wash leather. This bait will last as long as 

 any artificial fly, and may be cast upon the water 

 in the same way, using it as a stretcher in conjunc- 

 tion with two drop flies. If dressed large it 

 will kill large chub, and towards evening in the 

 summer season may tempt large Thames trout. 



Gentles are a summer and autumn bait. The 

 bottom-line in fishing with them should be fine, 

 and they should be handled delicately. On fine 

 mild winter month days they are a good bait for 

 roach and grayling. 



Gentles in London can be cheaply procured at 

 the fishing-tackle shops, elsewhere, and by other 

 means. You can get them of large size, and in 

 great abundance at the manufactories of tallow- 

 chandlers and fell-mongers. You can even pro- 

 duce them for yourself. " Hang," says Captain 



