24 



THE ROACH. 



cost of this ground bait will not exceed sixpence. Another 

 good plan in these deep and quiet waters is roving for roach^ 

 instead of putting the whole of the ground bait in one swim 

 and sticking to that place all day, try a dozen places, drop a 

 ball or two in, and fish an hour ; then try another, finally 

 going back to the first, expending his ground bait in morsels 

 in any and every likely looking shop he comes across, and 

 fishing none of them very long together, shifting to another 

 after getting a couple of roach out of one, and so on all day 

 long. I have known some capital bags of roach to be made; 

 by this method of ground-baiting. When the angler is using 

 wheat as a hook bait, and the ground bait as just described, 

 he can, if he likes, have a little inferior wheat about half 

 cooked, not more than half a pint at the outside, and sprinkle 

 in his swimi a few corns from time to time, but not more than 

 a score at once ; but whatever he does in this matter, he 

 must mind and have his hook bait of very miuch better quality 

 than the corns or baits thrown in the swim. Ground baits 

 for roach are very nearly as varied in their character as the 

 hook baits themselves. I have seen some curious mixtures 

 used, and occasionally with very fair success. A ground 

 bait that is very much affected by certain roachers who live- 

 on the banks is grains ; that is, brewer's grains, and clay. 

 They procure a couple of bushels and put them; in a tub 

 and cover them with water ; this keeps them sweet and fresh 

 for several days. They then take a pailful at once, and mix 

 them with clay and dump in the swim, a dozen huge balls 

 every night for a week. Some odd times they get very large 

 bags of roach and bream after a baiting of that description, 

 but personally I am. not in favour of the plan. This ground 

 bait, when put in in such tremendous quantities, is very apt 

 to spoil the swim, altogether for two or three weeks after- 

 wards, as I fancy it turns sour and sickens the fish. The 

 ground bait as first described is more to be relied on; in 

 fact, for quiet or semi-quiet waters I know by personal ex- 

 perience that it cannot be beaten, especially in those waters 

 where wheat and paste are the staple and most important 

 hook baits. I have looked at these ground baits at rather a 

 great length, because the subject is one of the most important 

 that can be brought to the notice of the novice. 



