contains a great truth in small compass. Fish may undoubtedly be taken in clear water and in good quantity, but running tackle and fine, and extreme caution are necessary.
18. Do you find that movement in the boat, noise, or loud talking frightens the fish?
Loud talking or laughter in the boat does not appear to intimidate the fish, but knocking or any disturbance which communicates a vibration to the water is decidedly objectionable, especially in shallower streams, and often causes a great interruption to the fishing. Have found a pair of lawn-tennis shoes or slippers very good to wear in a boat when fishing, for this reason.
19. Name some of the best catches you have made or know of.
I do not chronicle my catches, so can give no dates; but have had some fine catches within the past five or six years, principally on the Yare. On one occasion, at Buckenham, with a friend, six stone [160] between 2.30 and 7 p.m.; another time upwards of five stone in about the same space of time, and numerous catches of from two to four stone in an afternoon’s fishing; also more than a bushel by measure one afternoon with a friend fishing in the dyke leading to Oulton Broad. This was in the first week of September, 1879.
20. What is the reason of the non-success of strange anglers which is so noticeable?
Ignorance of the general requirements of tackle suitable for fishing in our waters, and also of the modus operandi, one of the chief reasons being a want of knowledge of the right depth at which to fish, which could easily be known by simply “plumbing” the depth. By way of instance, I have on several occasions found strangers fishing on the Yare in 12 or 14 feet of water, with their baits only about four or five feet below the surface, and at the same time wondering that anglers close by should be catching plenty of fish when they could get none. Baits, too, are doubtless used which, although very good for some streams or waters, are of very little use with us.
N.B.—“When the wind blows strong and the waves roll high,” it is often very difficult to fish or even to detect a bite. This is very tantalising, and not infrequently happens through a shift in the wind when you are in a capital “swim.” The remedy for this is to put on a nice light ledger, with about three hooks, and with which excellent sport may sometimes be had when it would be impossible to fish in any other way.
In float fishing for roach, the bait should be just touching the bottom. A good plan adopted by some is to fish with two hooks, the bottom one dragging on the bottom, and the upper one about three or four inches clear of the bottom. This is an advantage in fast streams, as it retards the onward motion of the float, the bait is more easily taken, and the swims are not passed so rapidly.