T have fished successfully for carp with a small
hook at each end of the worm. My method is
as follows : At each end of a short length of gut
tie a hook—the hooks are usually about three
inches apart when the tackle is complete ; in the
middle of this gut attach a trace at right angles.
To bait, start at the middle of the worm, and
thread each hook outwards. Previous to thread-
ing the worm with the hooks, it can be


160 ANIMAL LIFE UNDER WATER


thrown forcibly on the ground and killed. The
worm now lies on the bottom with the gut trace
coming out at right angles from the middle, and
the head and tail each contains a hook threaded
to the end.
As the carp family invariably take one end
of the worm the angler can be certain that the
hook is in the fish’s mouth as soon as the float
moves, and can strike at once. The advantage
in being able to strike at once, instead of waiting
until the fish has had time to take the worm, is
obvious. How often when fishing for carp has
the float just gone under and then come up
again? The carp has taken the end of the worm
into his mouth preparatory to sucking it down,
but the timid fish has felt a check on the captive
worm, or its suspicions have been aroused in
some other manner, and the bait is rejected
before the hook has even been near the mouth
of the fish.
