194 COARSE FISH. 



in the water ; this will give some little idea of the 

 pace at which a Thames trout moves. I once had 

 the bad luck to lose a good trout through being 

 unable to strike. I was livebaiting in a weir over 

 a feeding fish, and a large branch was suddenly 

 driven up by the action of the water — this branch 

 entangled my line, and while endeavouring to clear 

 it, at a distance of perhaps thirty yards, the trout 

 took my bait very quietly. The line was firmly 

 fouled by the branch, and I was quite unable to 

 strike. As the fish took the bait so quietly, he did 

 not hook himself, and on feeling the hooks he 

 dropped the bait, which I found all scored with 

 teeth marks when I got the branch ashore at the 

 lower end of the weir-run. The bait was some 

 twenty feet below the entanglement. 



Immediately behind any obstruction in a weir 

 Likely caused by stumps, or stones, is an excellent 

 spots place for trout ; or just above the junction 

 of two streams or runs, the slacker water between 

 two runs often holding fish ; while, if there be a far- 

 shooting fall from an open gate, or in a corner of a 

 weir, the fish frequently lie immediately above the 

 junction of the upper water with the lower. I have 

 hooked trout within a few feet of the rod-top, being 

 very careful indeed to keep out of sight when 

 fishing so close up. Every foot of the far ends of 

 the runs, fifty or more yards away, should be 

 worked ; but when fishing shallow water with live- 

 bait, all lead should be discarded, and not even so 

 much as a single shot should be on the cast. If a 

 float is used in swift, shallow water, it should be at 

 least ten feet from the bait. When I speak of a float 

 for trout-fishing I fear some of my readers will be 

 puzzled, and perhaps disgusted. The float for 



