Generally speaking, the most fish are taken from about half an hour before high water to half an hour after. For further notes, see “Roach.”
6. What ground-bait?
Boiled maize, boiled barley grains, barley meal made up into balls, chopped worms, boiled rice. This latter and grains I have found very killing on the Bure.
7. Are places ever baited beforehand?
Mostly overnight, where there is a fair opportunity of doing so. This mode is very telling on Broads and other still waters.
8. What baits are most successful?
For large fish at Cantley, Reedham, Somerleyton, and other deep swift waters, ledger fishing, with the tail end of a lobworm on the hook, is a capital bait. Generally speaking, however, I have found “brandlings” the most killing, and have found a brandling with a gentle placed on the point of the hook will sometimes be taken readily when no other bait would be touched. Red paste is often very killing on the Bure.
9. What kind of rod?
Strong and stiff cane or hickory, 15 to 18 feet long, with a good stout top joint, on the Yare. Shorter will do on the Bure.
10. Number of hook?