28 THE FISHING-ROD; 



the correct depth, to leave the line in the 

 water a few minutes with the plummet attached : 

 meanwhile, you can be casting in ground-bait, 

 and your line will become straight and soft, 

 and consequently more manageable and less 

 likely to break. 



In hot weather roach do not swim so deeply 

 in the water as when it is cold and cool. The 

 angler must therefore regulate the depth at 

 which he fishes accordingly. 



It is sometines necessary to plumb the depth 

 a second and third time in course of a few 

 hours fishing, by reason of the float having 

 moved up or down the line, or from the water 

 rising or falling through the action of tides, 

 opening flood-gates, stopping or starting mill- 

 wheels, &c., either of which may so interfere 

 with the angler's success that he will probably 

 find the fish will leave off biting. 



It is a very good plan whilst angling for 

 roach to throw in at different intervals a ground- 

 bait of small pellets of bread and bran, kneaded 

 together so as to make the pieces tough. 



Roach are in season from September to March. 



It has often been observed that some of the 

 London anglers are the most skilful roach- 



