THE ROACH. 



main with the plummet attached to it, in the water, 

 while you are preparing and casting in ground-bait, 

 by which means the line gets stretched and softened, 

 and, consequently, less likely to break, which gut 

 and hair frequently do, when dry and stiff ; and also, 

 occasionally, while fishing, dip the line above the 

 float in the water for the same reason, especially in 

 hot dry weather. 



During very warm weather. Roach occasionally 

 swim near the surface of the water, and will then 

 sometimes take the bait at mid-water, or a house-fly, 

 better than at bottom ; but this does not often occur, 

 therefore always begin to fish with the bait slightly 

 dragging or touching the bottom. After trying this 

 way without success, you then may angle at mid- 

 water ; and you may also fish at various depths when 

 angling in a tide-river, during the tide is making, 

 and until high-water. And further note, when an- 

 gling in rivers and streams, especially for Roach, 

 make choice of a swim that is shoal at the end of it, 

 because, as the ground-bait separates, it drifts down 

 the stream, and will lodge there, and keep the Fish 

 from going further ; and the baited hook will also 

 touch the bottom all the way : but if the end of a 

 swim is deeper than the top or beginning, your baited 

 hook will not then be at a proper depth as it proceeds, 

 which is material, as Roach, Chub, and Dace gene- 

 rally bite at the end of the swim, especially if the water 

 is shallow or bright. 



When Roach-fishing, you should occasionally take 

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