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still, water, where there are flags and reeds ; or a gravelly bot- 

 tom by the side of willow beds, trees, bushes, or anything that 

 will afford cover. From October till April Perch will be found 

 in such places as I have previously mentioned Pike resort to in 

 winter ; except in the depth of winter, when they like a sandy 

 bottom. The months for Perch fishing are July, August, and 

 September ; but I have caught them very freely in March, and 

 in the beginning of April. Perch seldom bite in sharp frosty 

 weather ; but when the weather is open and mild you may take 

 Perch, more or less, all through the winter. I have seen them 

 bite well on a still misty morning in summer; but as a general 

 rule, a dull day, with a gentle breeze blowing, is the best for 

 Perch fishing. They do not fancy feeding on bright sunny 

 days. 



The rod for Perch fishing should be made light and handy — 

 not stiif as some Anglers prefer. The best is a light rod, 

 twelve feet long, that will hit sharp from the top ; every joint of 

 which, when a fish is hooked, will take a proportionate share of 

 the labour. In fact, a Eoach rod is strong enough to kill a 

 Perch. There is nothing so formidable in a Perch that you 

 should require a rod as stiff as a prop. The rod which I use is 

 just a light Roach rod. I have killed Perch from three to four 

 pounds weight with it, and I have no doubt I could land with 

 it the largest Perch that ever swam, and never fear a break. 



I would recommend a three-inch common wood reel for Perch 

 fishing. Generally, speaking, you do not require so much reel 

 work for Perch, but it is well to be prepared for anything that 

 might happen. If, in some rivers that I know of, you were 

 spinning the Minnow for Perch, a Trout eight or ten pounds 

 might pay you a visit, in which case it would be all over with 

 you unless you had a good and free running reel. 



Tour line for spinning the Minnow should be made entirely 

 of silk plaited, one hundred yards of which should weigh about 

 half an ounce. This is a good fine line, but the line for bottom 

 fishing must be much finer, and one hundred yards should only 

 weigh a quarter of an ounce. Of course, if you hook a fish 



