Martin - Float fishing and spinning in the Nottingham

26 BOTTOM FISHING IN THE NOTTENGHAM STYLE.
constantly brought before the public, that the novice would
be nearly at his wits' end in order to make a careful selection.
Many of these improvements are only improvements in name,
and not in practical utility. I have not yet seen a winch or
reel fitting that will beat the three plain brass rings that are
in general use on bottom rods ; they cannot very well get out
of order, and if fitted properly will hold the reel as tightly as
possible.
Some anglers have and recommend an extra top to a rod ;
it is very nice under some conditions to have an extra top to
a rod, or if the angler wants to do two or three different sorts
of fishing with one rod, or has to travel a long way to his
sport, and has to pack up his traps into as little a compass as
1
possible ; but personally I have found that an extra top is
more trouble than profit, for I was as safe as houses sure to
leave it on the bank, or else set my foot on it and break it.
And now we will turn our attention to something that is
very useful to the angler and amateur tackle-maker, and that
is, a good bottle of varnish. Hooks of all sorts, after being
whipped to the tackle, and the bindings of the rod round the
rings, &c., would be all the better for being occasionally
touched over with a good spirit varnish ; and I will now give
a recipe for making a first-class varnish. I should suppose
that most anglers have noticed how hard and bright the
varnish on a well-finished rod is, and have often wished they
could get some similar to dress their hooks and whippings
with. I use a great deal of this varnish, and I make it of
the following quantities : One quart of methylated spirits of
wine, half a pound of gum shellac, two ounces of gum benzoine,
half an ounce of gum Thus, and half an ounce of gum
mastic, all mixed together in a bottle and shaken up constantly,
till it becomes a thick, sticky liquid. Of course, no
and
angler would want a quantity like that for his own use ;
as it is very expensive, perhaps the best plan would be to
send to some rod and tackle maker for a small bottle of that
varnish which need not be more than ;
sixpennyworth, and
would be enough to last him a whole year. It should be
kept tightly corked, and the camel's-hair brush that is used
to apply the varnish should be fastened in the cork and