98 COARSE FISH. 



winter. A very killing method for sharp-stream 



„. . fishing in summer is to select a nice straight 



line run with a gravelly bottom, taking a 



fishing gg^(. ^g j^g^j. j-j^g water as possible. Use 



a tackle with a very thin six or seven inch quill 

 float, either a goose or porcupine quill ; put the 

 first shot about ten inches from the hook, the 

 others about three inches apart, arranging the 

 depth so that the lowest shot and the hook shall 

 rest on the bottom; and fish with a tight line, 

 striking very sharply when the float is jerked under 

 or pulled down. Groundbait with a few loose 

 gentles or broken worms, according to the hook- 

 bait ; commence by fishing close under the rod-top, 

 keeping the rod out at right angles to the stream 

 about two feet from the surface, holding the line 

 taut. The float must be capped, not tied on by its 

 lower end as in bream-fishing ; the latter method 

 will not suit in swift streams. If you do not get 

 dace almost directly, lift the tackle, and let the bait 

 rest a couple of feet further down stream, repeating 

 the process till a very long swim is fished. Try two 

 or three very long runs ; and if sport does not 

 ensue, seek another swim. In winter, fish deep 

 eddies, either with a moving float or by tight 

 corking ; in this case, so long as it is light, a longer 

 rod should be used, but it must be one that is con- 

 trolled with perfect ease, as the strike must be very 

 sharp and quick. In these deep eddies, a heavier 

 groundbait should be employed ; clay and bran and 

 gentles (or broken worms), with a stone in the 

 centre of each lump, will prove serviceable. Worms 

 and gentles are the standard baits for bottom- 

 fishing for dace. 



One of the best catches of big dace I ever saw 



