308 BEST BAITS FOR TENCH. 



THE TENCH. Cyprinus Tinea. 



This mucous blackish olive carp inhabits waters 

 stagnant on a loamy, clayey soil, with a soft muddy 

 bottom. The best baits for tench are red worms, 

 gentles, pastes, caddies, larvae of all kinds, such 

 as flag- worms, wasp-grubs, and caterpillars. They 

 will also take water and garden snails. Fish close 

 to the bottom, but not on it, particularly if it is 

 a soft, muddy one. Captain Williamson says, 

 6 Tench do not swallow a bait very quickly, 

 sometimes holding it in their mouths for a while, 

 therefore give them good time, and let them either 

 keep the float down, or, as is often the case, let 

 them rise with the bait, so as to lay your float on 

 the water. This is an excellent sign, and war- 

 rants your striking, but rather gently, lest the 

 fish be only sucking the bait, for he will seldom 

 return after it is drawn from his mouth.' The 

 best time for angling for tench is early and late 

 of mornings and evenings; but they bite freely 

 and all day long during the fall of mild rain in 



