40 ANGLING 



for Lis trouble. To do these things well requires soine 

 knowledge of the habits of the finny tribes, their haunts, 

 the most attractive baits, and those best adapted for the 

 season. 



His rod must be strong and light, and should have one 

 or two tops in reserve, so as to adapt it to the various kinds 

 of fish. One of the best bottom-fishers I ever met always 

 carried an extra joint with his rod of stout bamboo, which 

 was fitted at the bottom with a stout ferule and brass cap 

 tapped to hold a spud, drag-hook, gafif-hook, or landing-net, 

 while the upper end would fit the lower part of his rod, 

 when necessary, by unscrewing the ferule, and give him a 

 twenty feet sweep of a broad river. His rod consisted of 

 four lengths, each a little over four feet long, light, but 

 strongly made. This wUl answer for ordinary purposes , 

 but when fishing for roach, the rod should be lighter than 

 is necessary for any other species of river fish. 



There is some difference in experience and practice as 

 to the use of a winch in bottom-fishing. For my own 

 part, I have not found it essential, though always useful, 

 if only to shorten or lengthen the line. A good plan is to 

 have a rod ringed, and attach a small spring swivel (which 

 may be bought at any fishing-tackle retailer's) to the line, 

 so that it can be brought down to the lower rings at once, 

 if necessary to shorten the line. This has the effect of 

 equalising to a great extent the strain upon the rod, though - 

 not to the same extent as the winch. 



The lines used for bottom-fishing are those made of gut, 

 which should be as fine as possible, consistent with strength. 

 Nay, some roach fishers use a single horse-hair for their 

 bottom lines, though a fine silk-worm gut is equally as 

 good, and infinitely more reliable. The foot lines must, 



