THE BARBEL. 15 



seen half buried in the sand, with the shells slightly 

 apart. The twig is cautiously inserted between the 

 shells, and the mussel immediately grips it tightly, 

 and is lifted out. I like a No. 10, 11 or 12 hook 

 (see p. 'j'j^ for barbel-fishing with lobworm, as a 

 lobworm is a big bait, and a small hook is smothered 

 in it (instructions for baiting with lobworm will be 

 found on p. 233). Barbel hooks can be obtained 

 with a small hook tied on the gut some little dis- 

 tance above the shank of the large hook ;*in very 

 swift water, this serves to keep the worm straight, 

 and well up the gut, for if the worm be forced into a 

 lump on the bend of the hook the barb is, to some 

 extent, choked with the bait ; and, in consequence, 

 fish may be missed. The late J. P. Wheeldon, who 

 was one of the most successful barbel-fishers I ever 

 knew, gave me a hint about baiting with a lobworm 

 that is well worth relating. Instead of threading 

 the worm entirely ofi the hook, just nick the worm 

 through the skin in two places, and instead of 

 ' holding the line quite taut on the winch or in the 

 hand, gently grasp it between the first finger and 

 thumb of the left hand, leaving about three inches 

 of line loose behind the grasp. On feeling the tug- 

 tug, let the little 'slack line slip, then strike almost 

 instantly. This method is certainly to be com- 

 mended ; when the barbel first takes the bait, if not 

 greedily feeding, he is just picking it up, the slack 

 line allows him to suck it well in, and he will be 

 better hooked. For legering in quiet swims, this 

 style of baiting and hooking should meet with 

 success, though I am inclined to think the worm, or 

 part of it, would frequently be sucked or nipped off" 

 and the hook missed by the fish. In very swift 

 water the force of the stream would tear the worm 



