62 COARSE FISH. 



night-fishing, even in the height of summer ; and 

 still, muggy nights, with very gentle rain, suit carp 

 fishing above all other weather. When legering for 

 big carp, a strong line must be used. As the line 

 rests on the bottom it is not much, if at all, 

 noticed by the fish. I use a dark green undressed 

 silk plait line in preference to any other, and test it 

 well for a yard or two before fishing, as the line is 

 continually in the water, and it is no good to have 

 the last yard or two rotten, however strong the other 

 portion may be. 



Except when baiting with worm, I always 

 . employ a triangle for carp-fishing. This 

 and tri- holds a paste or potato bait much better 

 angles ^j^^^^ ^ single hook, the bait is not so easily 

 thrown, or sucked off, and there are three hooks to 

 hold the fish instead of one. It is seldom the three 

 hooks of a triangle are driven into a fish (unless 

 hooked in the gullet), but two out of the three 

 generally get a good hold in a carp's mouth. No. 

 9 or lo is a good size for a triangle, 7, 8, or 9 foi 

 worm-baiting (see p. 233). Be particularly careful 

 to test the metal in either hook or triangle, as 

 the strain will be severe with a heavy fish. 



Thin quills should be used for floats, they offer 

 less resistance to a bite ; and in shotting 



Float '^ 



the line, keep the lowest shot well away, 

 even two feet, from the hook. The lower part of 

 the float should be painted a dull green, the upper, 

 for about an inch, left white or painted red, which 

 is seen for a long distance. 



The gut length need not exceed a yard in 



Gut legering, but should be at least two yards 



length long for float-fishing. I am quite against 



the use of fine gut in places where large carp 



