THE PERCH. 115 



fine running line, dressed with vaseline and enamel, 

 and a fine gut cast. I prefer the cast stained 

 very light blue, and two yards are quite enough. 



Large-sized hooks should be used for perch. 

 Nos. 8, 9, or 10 (Hardy's) are none too large. 

 Employ round or Kirby bent hooks for 

 worm-fishing, and sneck bent for livebaiting, either 

 with float or paternoster. Be sure that the gut 

 length on the hook is fine, for perch will frequently 

 refuse baits on coarse tackle. There is, indeed, no 

 necessity to use coarse stuff, for if you get a two- 

 and-a-half pound perch nowadays from public 

 waters you are uncommonly lucky. 



The floats usually sold for perch-fishing are very 

 clumsy in appearance, being far too broad 

 in the cork. A tapered cork float acts just 

 as well, and is much better for strikmg ; moreover, 

 it does not drag so much against the water as a 

 flat-, or nearly flat-, topped float. The colours of 

 perch-floats are generally very gaudy, but there is 

 no necessity for this, as perch-swims are seldom 

 fished long. The bait should swim from mid-water 

 to within three inches of the bottom ; and whether 

 it be worm or minnow, the angler need not trip the 

 bait along the bottom, as perch generally feed at 

 some little distance from it. 



The best livebaits are minnows; after these, small 

 gudgeon. Well-scoured lobworms are very . 

 good baits, and I have also killed fine perch 

 with brandlings. Artificial baits are numerous, a 

 small " Wagtail " being my favourite. Devon 

 minnows, phantoms, quill minnows, small gold or 

 silver spoons, silver spoons with the concave side 

 painted red, or spoons with a red tassel of wool, 

 will all kill perch. They will sometimes refuse 



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