AND HOW TO USE IT. 25 



yet to become a good roach angler requires 

 considerable practice, fine tackle, and a quick 

 eye ; and the hand should be instantaneous in 

 its action in order to hook a roach skilfully. 



It is only the large or heavy fish that the 

 skilled roach angler troubles himself to fish for ; 

 and as these are seldom to be taken except in 

 deep waters, and are ten times as cunning as 

 the thousands of hungry little ones which 

 throng the shallows and banks of every pond, 

 lake, and stream, the young angler will find 

 he has always something to learn even in roach 

 fishing. And let us remind him that the cap- 

 ture of large roach, of a pound and upwards 

 in weight, from a depth of ten feet of water 

 with a single hair line, requires as much skill, 

 and affords as fine play, as any fish of its size. 



For roach fishing use a light bamboo rod, 

 of from 16 to 18 feet in length, with a fine 

 but stiff top-piece ; a line made of single hair, 

 or very fine gut, a quill float, and No. 10 or 

 H short-shanked hook. Put all the shot close 

 together, and within 12 inches of the hook. 

 The line should be shotted in such a manner 

 that the tip only appears above water ; and 

 the spare line between the float and the tip 



