298 HOW TO ANGLE FOB ROACH. 



best. No fish whatever exerts the capabilities of 

 the angler so extensively as this ; even the gray- 

 ling (whose versatility in yielding sport is great 

 also) must nevertheless give place to the roach, 

 a precedence which we think will always rank 

 him as a distinguished member in the piscatory 

 list.' For my own part, I think that if the 

 roach could be caught with stout tackle, there 

 would be an end to the rage for fishing for him. 

 To be obliged to catch him with a single hair line 

 and tender tackle, is the chief cause of all the 

 excitement felt by the roach- fisher. 



In the autumn and winter months you should 

 use a very small hook, and very short in the 

 shank. A line very lightly shotted, and the shots 

 to be placed far from the bait. The link to which 

 the hook is whipped should be of a single long 

 horse-hair of a good colour, and the upper part of 

 the line may be of two twisted hairs, or very fine 

 gut. Use a neat quill float, or a very small and 

 light cork one. From your float to the point of 

 your rod, let there be as little line out as possible, 

 eighteen inches or two feet, and keep the point 

 of your rod perpendicularly over your float in the 

 water. Doing so will enable you to perceive the 

 feeblest bite, and to strike with effect. Do not 

 fish too close to the bottom, and ever and anon 

 draw your bait up to the surface of the water, and 

 let it sink gently again. Ground-bait moderately 



