Fisherman's Manual - Fish And How To Catch Them Fish and How to Catch Them

FISHERMANS MANUAL FISH AND HOff TO CATCH THEM BY J. P. MORETON AND W, A. HUNTER Author of Fishermans Knots and Wrinkle, and The Romance of Fish Life, Editor of Fishermans Pie. A. C. BLACK LTD., 4. 5 6 SOHO SQUARE, LONDON, W. i Published June, 1932 Reprinted 1942 Reprinted ij 45 Printed in Great Britain by Billing and Sons Ltd., Guildford and Esher PREFACE MOST of the chapters in this book were originally issued as pamphlets with the object of assisting beginners to make a start at the sport and ajjQki niany mistakes incidental to lack of experience. The demand for copies, however, was such that two large issues were quickly exhausted so we decided to make some additions of our own, to incorporate suggestions offered by experienced fishermen, and then to publish the whole in this handy pocket form. We are indebted to Mr. C. V. Hancock for kindly reading the proofs. J. P. M. W. A. H. Birmingham, June, 1932. CONTENTS PACE I. PERCH 9 II. PIKE 15 III. ROACH ....... 27 IV. GRAYLING ...... 38 V. SPRING SALMON . . . . - 45 VI. TROUT ....... 57 VII. SUMMER SALMON AND SEA-TROUT . . 70 VIII. CHUB, BREAM, DACE AND OTHER COARSE FISH 83 Fish Fine for Fine Fish I.-PERCH THE perch is widely distributed in England, being commonly found in rivers, ponds, canals and lakes. It frequents Scottish waters also, especially in the Low lands we have taken them in Perthshire, too, and once landed a two-pounder on a large pike spoon bait in Fifeshire. It is a very handsome fish in shape and colouring, especially when its large spiky dorsal fin is erect and the bright vermilion of the other fins shows up against the darker colours of the body the back is a rich greenish brown, shading to yellow and white on thebelly, and there are broad vertical bands traversing the sides. Although apparently very conspicuous, this colour scheme blends wonderfully with the reeds and other water plants which grow in the perchs favourite io Fishermans Manual haunts, so that it is often difficult to spot one, even in clear water. The colour is densest when the fish is undisturbed or particularly satisfied. It will turn pale with fear in an instant when hooked or frightened, the colour globules in the skin reacting to the nerve impulses and con tracting immediately. Its growth depends largely on the amount of food available for the number of fish in crowded waters perch do not grow quickly or to any size, but in a suit able environment they may reach 3, 4 or even 5 Ibs. The largest of which there is exact record was taken in the Waveney in 1889, and weighed 5 Ibs. 8 ozs., but larger perch have undoubtedly been taken, up to io Ibs. in weight. A curious instance of the voracity of perch was described by the late Mr. Cholmondeley Pennell, who, when fishing at Windermere, accidentally removed the eye of a small perch which he was unhooking. As the fish was too small for the basket, and as bait was running very short also, Mr. Pennell returned the maimed fish to the water and put the displaced eye on a hook as bait. It was almost immediately taken by a fish which, on being landed, proved to be the original owner of the eye. Perch spawn in April and May, depositing large quantities of eggs in the form of strings of tiny beadlets, each covered by a gummy substance and adhering by that means to the others and to the roots of the bushes and trees on which they are festooned. Unfortunately I. Perch n the ova areconspicuous by their bright appearance and so attract the destructive attention of ducks, swans and other water-fowl, who quickly reduce the original quantity to a very small amount. Perch are gregarious and swim about in shoals. When fishing for them one can often get a number at the same spot if, however, a hooked fish gets away, the others seem to realise that there is trouble about and at once leave that spot. If you lose a fish it is well, therefore, to try somewhere else rather than continue at the same place...