86 THE angler's guide. 



numbers on grass-plots in gardens : begin to angle 

 for Tench in ponds, or still waters, early in May, 

 and continue until September. In rivers, they are 

 sometimes caught in March or April, and until Mi- 

 chaelmas. In Summer, Tench will get among the 

 weeds, and keep near the surface of the water, when 

 you may take them with rod, line, and baited hook, 

 by dropping the bait in any little opening you observe 

 among a bed of weeds. The line should be without 

 a float ; put a few shot on the line just to sink the 

 bait a few inches in the water, and when you see or 

 feel a bite, strike smart, and bring the Fish ashore. 

 In such places you connot play a heavy Fish, there- 

 fore use a short stout line, and a No. 7 or 8 hook j 

 use the same baits as when float-fishing, but weU 

 scoured red worms generally succeed best» 



Baits for Tench, and the Seasons to use them. 



During April and May, blood worms and red 

 worms are the best baits : as the season further ad- 

 vances, prefer baiting with gentles, rather green, and 

 sweet paste, and so continue to the end. If you wish 

 to thin a pond of Tench, get a bucket full of bul- 

 lock's blood and fresh grains, well mixed together, 

 and ground-bait therewith over night, for se- 

 veral succeeding nights, and angle the following 

 days : this method and mixture also answers for 

 Carp fishing. 



