lo COARSE FISH. 



which the float rests when the line is fully reeled 

 in. Many excellent swims can be fished in this 

 way, from punt or bank, that are utterly useless 

 to the angler who uses fixed float tackle. 



For slower runs {i.e. compared with weir runs), up 

 to about eight or ten feet in depth, I have a little 

 float that works admirably. A small porcupine 

 quill, three and a half inches in length, has the 

 rings and cork cone affixed as before, the cork 

 being much thinner than that on the larger float. I 

 find the cone, by offering a slight resistance to the 

 water, greatly helps to keep a straight line ; the 

 benefit of this will be explained later on. For very 

 shallow swims I use a plain quill, but it is more 

 difficult to get it to act properly. This float, being 

 thin, makes little resistance when a fish is struck, 

 and can be fixed by quill or rubber caps. 



The tackle and floats for barbel must have the 

 shots a trifle heavier throughout than those for 

 chub, sufficient to keep the bait as near the 

 bottom as possible, tripping on it whenever this 

 can be done. Floating from the punt is far 

 easier work than floating from the bank ; in 

 the former the angler can generally command a 

 straight run down, and can keep his float well over 

 his ground bait. For obvious reasons I like 

 fishing very long swims ; I send the bait to the 

 fish instead of bringing the fish to the bait, and the 

 fish get a tempting mouthful presented to them at 

 such a great distance from anything alarming that 

 the chances of success are much greater, unless the 

 fish are madly on the feed, when they may some- 

 times be hooked close under the rod-top. As another 

 advantage, a travelling bait works the water 

 more thorough!}', as compared with a stationary, or 



