GUDGEON-FISHING 15 



THE GUDGEON (GoUo fluviatilis.) 



The gudgeon is gregarious, and swims in large shoals. It 

 is a lively little fish, and a very sharp biter, and when the 

 fish are feeding well, it is no very uncommon thing to take 

 from five to six, or even seven dozen in one pitch. The gudgeon 

 spawns on the gravel in shallows and rapids in May. The ova 

 soon hatch, the young fry grow rapidly, and by August they 

 have usually attained the length of an inch. A gudgeon of 

 six inches is a good size, of seven of unusual size, but they 

 seldom attain to eight. Gudgeon bite best in clear water and 

 warm weather in moderately rapid streams, where the water 

 ranges from eighteen inches to three feet in depth. In order 

 to attract them it is necessary to rake up the gravel so as to 

 cause a thick water. The gudgeon immediately flock to the 

 spot in order to feed upon the small insects and worms which 

 are thus exposed. For this purpose a heavy iron rake, with a 

 long handle, is used. The angler then fishes over the raked 

 spot, his bait just tripping over the bottom. A light cork 

 float and a No. 10 hook are advisable : the gudgeon feeds 

 upon gentles, or any small grubs, and worms ; but nothing 

 can compare in point of attraction to a small fragment of red 

 worm, or, as it is called on the Trent, the cockspur. This 

 they keep on biting at until hardly a scrap is left, and often 

 ten or a dozen fish may be taken with the same worm. So 

 bold is the bite that the float plumps down under water, and 

 the fisherman has little more to do than to pull up, no matter 

 how, to catch the fish, though a sharp upward stroke of the 

 rod, the wrist and forearm being suddenly jerked up to produce 

 it, is desirable. The elbow should be kept close to the side, 

 and the rod held lightly in the hand. For the reason that the 

 fish require so little skill to take them, gudgeon-fishing has 

 always been a favourite pursuit with the fair sex. I feel that I 

 might be sarcastic here, and draw morals of divers kinds. 

 But I refrain, for I have enjoyed many a day's gudgeon- 

 fishing in the fairest of fair company under such circumstances, 

 and I am grateful even for the recollection ; and let me tell 

 you, young fisherman, that it is a mighty dangerous occupation 

 to your peace of mind. To the angler of maturer years 

 gudgeon-fishing on the bosom of old Thames, with a chosen 

 friend, who is lively, philosophical, contemplative, or convivial 

 as the humour changes, a cold pigeon-pie, a bottle of sparkling 

 sherry, unlimited seltzer cooling in the well, a fine warm day, 



