Roach, Rudd & Bream Fishing; Being a Practical Treatise on Angling with Float and Ledger in Still Water and Stream. Including a Few Remarks on Surface Fishing for Rudd and Roach - John William Martin

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1896 edition. Excerpt: ... cast. Sometimes, when the current is strong it is necessary to throw it at least ten yards above where he stands, and sometimes not above three or four. By exercising a little care he will soon hit the exact spot to a nicety; but one thing is certain, it requires a good deal more judgment to successfully ground-bait a stream than it does to ground-bait still water. Hook baits for roach down a stream are nearly as varied as they are for still water fishing; but gentles as an all-round lure can be put an easy first. Well scoured maggots are very attractive for one thing, and another thing they are tough and lasting on the hook, and nothing like so liable to get washed off as paste, or even boiled grain. In using maggots on the hook I recommend them to be as near the bottom of the river as possible, and one, two, or even three can be tried at a time according to water and the appetite of the roach. In bailing the hook the point should be put through the thick end of the gentle sideways, so that it sticks out at right angles from the shank; push No. i gentle nearly to the top of the shank, thread another in exactly the same way, through the thick end, and let the thin end of this gentle stick out opposite the first one; finally put a third well on the point and barb of the hook, but always mind and keep the point end of the maggots free. By adopting this plan there are three twirling ends wriggling about in opposite directions, and if it is carefully done without bursting the maggot, a very attractive bait is the result. Two can be put on in the same manner as three, and if the angler likes he can try one only on a very small hook. This is a good plan to adopt if the water is very clear: the hook is put carefully through the thick end of this odd...