258 MODERN PRACTICAL ANGLER. 



become dead and sodden, they ought to be renewed. 

 Rudd — and Roach also during cold weather — will often 

 bite freely at the worm ; for which purpose I have found 

 the brandhng most successful. As liver gentles are the 

 best general bait for the hook, so carrion gentles are the 

 best ground-bait both for Roach and Rudd. In ponds 

 and still waters they should be used alone, or at any 

 rate mixed with nothing heavier than wet bran ; but in 

 running waters, unless in eddies or the gentlest currents, 

 soaked bread or meal should be added, without which it 

 is very difficult to regulate with any degree of nicety 

 the point at which they will reach the ground. The 

 stronger and deeper the stream the stiffer should be the 

 mixture. If gentles in sufficient abundance cannot be 

 obtained, the above ground baits, singly or in combina- 

 tion, are the best substitutes. Meal by itself, or mixed 

 with boiled rice, makes a very fair ground-bait for 

 streams, as it possesses the requisite consistency and 

 wxight for withstanding the action of the water ; 

 chewed bread-crumb is also a by no means contemptible 

 substitute in ponds and Hghter waters. If possible, it is 

 better to bait the place it is proposed to fish before- 

 hand ; and on this point, the principle laid down under 

 the head of Barbel and Bream fishing (pp. 247-8) should 

 be observed. Roach being both smaller eaters and com- 

 monly congregating in smaller shoals than the last- 

 named fish, should be ground baited for with a pro- 

 portionately smaller quantity of food. In ground 



