THE TEKCH. 893 



THE TENCH. 



Still waters are the favourite haunts of the tench, where 

 they lie concealed among the reeds of rivers, or in places 

 shaded by heather or bushes. They thrive best, however, in 

 standing waters, where they lie under weeds, near sluices, 

 and at pond-heads. They are much more numerous in pools 

 and pits than in rivers, although those taken in the latter are 

 far preferable in point of taste. The tench begins to spawn 

 in June, and may be found spawning in some waters until 

 September ; their best season is from that period until the 

 end of May. 



The tackle in angling for tench should be strong ; a swan 

 or goose-quill float, except in rivers, where the cork is always 

 to be preferred ; the hook 'No. 4 or No. 6, whipped to a sound 

 silkworm-gut, with two or three shot, ten to twelve inches 

 from it. Where there are weeds, fish about two feet deep, at 

 mid- water, and sometimes rather lower, according as the fish 

 are in the humour to take, frequently drawing the bait gently 

 towards the surface, and letting it sink in the slowest man- 

 ner; bait with the small red worms, as directed in perch- 

 fishing, and let the bait be six inches from the ground, but 

 where the mud is so deep as to cover the clay balls when 

 sunk, keep to the former method, and entice the fish by 

 bits of lob-worms. When using gentles, (which should lie 

 near the ground,) throw in some at the taking of every fish, 

 which will induce them to bite, and be the means of keep- 

 ing them together ; they should be allowed time in biting, 

 before they are struck. 



In tench-fishing some use the middle-sized bob or marsh- 

 worms, previously ground-baiting the place with lob- worm 

 and boiled malt, and fishing at bottom. Other baits 

 for this fish are wasp-larvae, earth-bob, green-worm shaken 



