94 COARSE FISH. 



I have stated that a longer rod should be used 

 General for bank-fishing. In most bank-swims the 

 hints lovely straight pull on your float cannot be 

 obtained with the same facility as in punt-fishing : 

 the rod is more at an angle with the stream. This 

 tends to lessen the force of the strike, so the extra 

 length is extremely useful ; it adds to the length of 

 the strike, and considerable force is required to 

 pick up a long line cleanly and neatly. A long 

 rod is also better for legering in side swims under 

 bushes. 



In traveller-float-fishing, nip on one shot to the 

 running line just above, or at, the knot where the 

 gut is tied, which keeps the tiny ring on the 

 bottom of th^ float from jamming or sticking on 

 the knot ; if this is attended to, much annoyance 

 will be avoided. 



Almost every swim requires special shotting of 

 tackle ; do not put the shot on all together in one 

 place for the heavy runs ; spread them apart, in 

 twos, threes and fours, the lesser numbers nearer 

 the bait. 



Although it is rare to get more than two chub 

 out of one swim in a short while, such luck is not 

 unknown. After a very wet day I tried for chub 

 in some places that were usually disturbed by 

 boats. The wet weather had kept the river quiet, 

 -and I got fifteen good chub out of half a dozen 

 short swims. Trying the same swims when the 

 boats are about has proved almost useless. Much 

 to my astonishment, I once caught a large chub in 

 shallow water when three launches were passing at 

 considerable speed, the wash from the three raising 

 quite a little sea on the river. I was baiting with 



