Barbel
The Barbel are strong fish, and require strong tackle to catch them, a
No. 4 or 5 hook tied on stout single gut, and have a small bullet with a
hole through it on your line, and a shot about a foot from the hook to
be stationary, to prevent the bullet from running down on the bait; when
you have a bite he draws the line through the bullet gently at first let
him do so for a little, and then strike not too hard. The best bait for
him is the lob worm well scoured.
I consider this a famous plan for catching salmon, when they will not
rise at the fly, in deep running streams. If you can find out where
there is one lying drop it into the water above him and let it fall
towards his nose, and he will be almost sure to take it. In low water
you can throw the lob worm, if well scoured, on a gut casting line, like
the fly, on a No. 6 hook; moving up the river, throwing it in before
you, and allowing it to fall gently with the current till you feel a
bite, raising your hand after allowing time, the same as if it had taken
the fly; you may wade up the river at convenient places with your boots,
try Cording's waterproofs, in the Strand.
There is good trout fishing after rains, with the running line, with
shot attached; use gut hooks No. 7 or 8, and let the bait run with the
stream gently, keeping the line taut, and when it stops rise your hand a
little to free it, allowing it to move on again, and when you feel a
bite wait a little till he takes it, and then strike gently, if a small
fish pull him out, if a large one play him. The best places to throw in
are at the sides of streams, in the smooth parts, in eddies, and where
the current of the pool is breaking off at the foot into another
stream, and when the flood is subsiding after rain, are the best times,
using brandling worms and small lob worms. This was my favourite way of
catching trout when a boy.
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A Catechism Of Fly-making
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To scour worms:--put them in clean damp moss, changing it in two or three days, place them between two layers of it, and choose those that are free from knots. The lob worms are found in gardens; brandlings and red worms are scoured with the lob w... Ballyna
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