48 A BOOK ON ANGLING 



This will carry sufficient weight to enable the tackle to be 

 cast off the reel.* It will be evident that the angler has 

 here no need to draw off line in the left hand as in dace- 

 fishing. In roving for barbel the process is similar to that 

 for roach and dace, but larger worms are used, and the tail 

 of a nice livery lob is placed upon a hook some two or three 

 sizes larger. Roving for barbel is not often resorted to if 

 the angler can manage to bait a pitch the day before. Indeed, 

 in order to increase the chance of sport, it is not unusual to 

 bait two or three days before and to repeat the baitings at 

 some twenty or twenty-four hours' interval two or three 

 times. 



It will often happen that the hole or swim to be fished is 

 some distance from the shore and is deeper than can be con- 

 veniently cast from the rod deeper, perhaps, than the 

 length of the rod. When this is the case a float called " a 

 slider " is used. The slider, as may be supposed from its 

 name, is not a fixed float, it has a ring at the top and another 

 at the bottom, standing out sideways so that the line may 

 travel freely through them. To use this float, it is slipped 

 on the line through both rings, and finds its resting-place 

 upon the uppermost shot of the sinkers. When it is dropped 

 into the water it floats in its proper position, but the sinkers 

 carry the bait to the bottom, drawing line enough for that 

 purpose with them down through the float rings. Now, the 

 depth having been carefully plumbed previously, is marked 

 on the line by the tying on of a little fragment of india-rubber 

 elastic, which offers just enough resistance to prevent the 

 line running any farther than is requisite through the small 

 float rings, upon which therefore the bit of india-rubber rests, 

 keeping the bait at the required depth below. Should a fish 

 bite, of course the check of the india-rubber allows the float 

 to be pulled down in the usual way, but it does not offer 

 sufficient resistance to prevent either its being wound up, 



* This cast, however, is by no means easy to acquire. Even the old 

 Thames spinner or ledger-fisher will find it no certainty, and at the com- 

 mencement will very often find his float round his head, or his rod, perhaps, 

 or anywhere but where he wants it to be ; but patience, practice, and perse- 

 verance do much ; and the chief direction to be borne in mind is, to avoid 

 anything like a jerk : a smooth regular sweep is that which has to be prac- 

 tised in the delivery or casting of the tackle. Having gently swung the 

 tackle backwards, bring it forward again with a steady regular sweep, and 

 release your hold of the line without any abrupt action, and keep the little 

 finger close to the circumference of the reel so as to be able to put on pressure 

 to prevent overrunning of the line or to stop it altogether, as may be desired. 



