205 COARSE FISH AND FLOAT FISHING TACKLE. HOOKS. In every description of float-fishing, as in trolling and flyfishing, though in a somewhat lesser degree, the hook plays the part of Hamlet, and although having already dealt with this subject in extenso in Vol. I. pp. 4-33, and in the present Vol. pp. 74-7 in reference to trolling hooks, I do not purpose now to go into what may be called the rationale of hook making as applicable to float-fishing especially, the arguments in one case. practically hold good in another. What is the best hook? The hook that kills best with the artificial fly will evidently, so far as killing powers go, catch the most fish with the worm or gentle. The only points in which some slight modification of the practical application of the principles alluded to may be necessary in the case of floatfishing are the length of the shanks and turned and needleeyed hooks. The latter present few of the advantages which the fly-fisher, having regard to his special art, may recognise in them, and the former-that is the length of the shank-is one entirely of convenience, depending upon the nature of the bait used, and the necessity of concealing the whole of the shank, as compared with the importance of missing the smallest number of bites. It is almost a self-evident proposition that a long-shanked hook of the same size and shaped bend will have greater penetrating power than a hook with a shorter shank. In order to arrive at this conclusion without any complicated process of reasoning out the mechanical argument it is only necessary to apply a sort of reductio ad absurdum, and consider what would be the actual power of a hook if the shank were reduced to the same length as the point. Evidently it would possess no penetrating power whatever. Extend the same principle to a hook with a shank slightly longer than the point, and you have a proportionate increase of hooking power, double it again, you get another increase and so on. For reasons already stated I believe that my bend of hook, shown in the annexed plate, fig. 1, will be found far the most killing for all sorts of bottom fishing. The length of shank has been especially calculated for tying artificial flies and so far as hooking powers go is, perhaps, about the perfect length. L L L L L L L L L 44 5 8 FIG. I.-'PENNELL SNECK-BEND,' HOOKS. In roach fishing, however, especially when paste is the bait used, a somewhat shorter shank is probably advisable. But let there be no mistake, the convenience in more readily covering the shank with the bait is only obtained at the expense of an equivalent amount of hooking, that is killing, power. For all sorts of worm-fishing where the shank of the hook can be readily concealed the use of the full length of shank is strongly recommended. The simplest way to shorten the shanks of any of these hooks is with a small pair of pliers or in an impromptu vice formed at the joint of a pair of scissors. In heavy fishing, where hooks larger than those shown in the engraving are used, my old bend of hooks-diagrams of which, as also of the ordinary round bend hooks, are appended -may be employed. It will be seen from the plate, fig. 2, that the two bends of hooks are numbered in different ways. My own are numbered from 1, which is probably the smallest size that will often be required in float-fishing, up to 10, the largest, suitable for barbelling and other exceptionally heavy work. Whenever sizes of hooks are given in the following pages it is these numbers that are referred to. انانانا انانانا تاتا CLLL l l l l FIG. 2.-'PENNELL OLD BEND,' AND 'ROUND BEND.' The sliced-hook' (vide cut) might be found advantageous for some sorts of fishing, such as barbelling with the lob-worm tail or fishing with the natural grasshopper, or shrimp bait, where it is desirable to prevent the bait slipping down the hook shank. I think it might be used with advantage also in almost all sorts of sea fishing with bait. GUT. Such observations as I am able to offer on ноок. the subject of gut and hair, having reference to FIG. 3.-'SLICED' the choice of methods of staining, knotting, &c., will be found at pp. 33-47 Vol. I. I do not, therefore, attempt to recapitulate them here. As regards the REEL AND RUNNING-LINE, the same remark applies, and I would merely say here that, setting aside such special departments as ledgering for barbel, where an extra strong heavy line is required, and Nottingham fishing, the disciples of which pride themselves on a wonderfully light line of undressed silk, the best sort of running-line that I am acquainted with for every purpose is one of the finest possible dressed silk of the thickness of ordinary stout sewing thread, which is both perfect in manipulation and of great strength. I have one of these lines before me now that has gone through a fair amount of work during the past season, both with float, fly, and worm-fishing for trout, for which latter purpose it is especially suitable, and I find that one yard of the end which has had all the wear is still capable of lifting a dead weight of 6 lbs. The price is 2s. 6d. for 20 yards, or 12s. 6d. for 100 yards, it is manufactured and sold by Watson and Sons, 308 High Holborn, London, under the designation of ‘Braided Waterproof Lines, No. H.' G, the next size larger, is 3s. per score yards, and so on down to A, which is a strong salmon line. Either E or D would be suited to ledgering for barbel or other heavy work. With this line also, and a rod with stiff rings I can easily throw a light tackle and float 15 or 20 yards, and very likely more, but it will not, of course, 'float' so well as undressed line. I have never yet tried how far I could throw it, but I have repeatedly thrown it the distance in question. This facility of casting is a very important part of a float-fisher's equipment, as it enables him to command any part of a pond or river which it is practically likely he may require to reach. The Nottingham line used with, and especially suitable to the Nottingham tackle, is equally suitable to almost every kind of float fishing (except jack fishing). It is made of pure undressed silk and combines great strength with the utmost lightness and fineness, being about, in fact, the thickness of the dressed line above described. Extreme lightness is desirable to give it flotation, where, as in the Nottingham style, long casts are made or the float travels a long way down stream, and there is sometimes as much as thirty or forty yards of line in the water at the same time. It must also be free from kinking proclivities and run very easily or it will not pass through the rod rings with sufficient freedom. A line of this kind was supplied to me by Mr. Baily, the well-known Nottingham troller, and it fulfils admirably all these conditions. It is composed of six or eight of the finest possible strands of silk plaited somewhat in a square shape. A hundred yards of it weigh exactly three-eighths of an ounce, and yet, notwithstanding this extreme fineness, I find it will lift a dead weight of between six and seven pounds, which is far beyond the strain it is ever likely to be subjected to. In fact, for all kinds of bottom-fishing this will be found a truly excellent line, but care must be taken to get the real thing. Still, for some sorts of fishing the advantage will probably be thought in practice to rest with the dressed silk line which I have already recommended, but there are many others, I am free to admit, in which the undressed silk from its greater lightness and floating qualities would have the votes in its favour, and in securing a float-fisher's outfit it would be well to have a running line of each sort. The price of the Nottingham line is 5s. per 100 yards of the plaited quality described; the twisted description being 2s. 6d. per 100 yards. Whenever a reel is necessary, and I confess I seldom care about fishing of any kind without one, any ordinary check reel, such as can be obtained at every tackle shop, and not too large, will answer the purpose, observing that it is desirable the 'check' should be as light as possible, as if it is too heavy it will not allow a small fish to carry out the line with sufficient ease. RODS. What observations on rods, in addition to those previously given, may be desirable in this division of my subject will be probably more conveniently distributed under the headings to which they more especially pertain. Combination rods' have been frequently invented which, by a transposition of tops, butts, and middle joints can be made to fulfil almost any rôle |