CO THE ROACH. 



reel and the first ring on the rod, in the same manner as 

 described for stream fishing. The tackle and rod is then 

 swung over their heads behind them, and then brought for- 

 ward again with a downward cast straight in front of them, 

 a good deal similar to throwing a fly wdth a fly-rod ; at the 

 same time as the forward movement is made, the line held 

 in the left hand is let go. This sharp, fly-fishing like cast- 

 ing is necessary to throw out the very light weight used in 

 this style. The gentle swing adopted with heavier tackle 

 would not get this light tackle out to its proper destination. 

 To make a fresh cast, the float is picked off the water with 

 the rod, like a fly is picked off, and thrown behind the 

 angler, and then projected forward again with a sharp cast 

 in a similar manner, as I said before, to a fly being thrown. 

 I might mention that in this drain style of fishing for roach 

 where groundbait is used I prefer the hook bait to be as 

 near the bottomi as possible. 



Shrimps are sometimes a good bait for roach in certain 

 of those still waters. The shrimps that I mean are those 

 that can be purchased at the fishmonger's shop. To bait 

 with them the head, tail and hard shell or skin are removed,, 

 the hook point run in at the thick end and brought out at 

 the bend close to the tail; the smallest shrimps are used 

 for the hook. The heads, tails,, shells, and also the very 

 large ones being smashed up into pulp in the hollow of the 

 hand and mixed thoroughly with a little of the bread and 

 bran groundbait, and popped in in little balls all round 

 your float. This is rather an uncertain bait for roach, the 

 waters wherein it is a success being very few ; that is as far 

 as I can learn, but perhaps this is for want of trying them 

 elsewhere. However, in those corners where they are used^ 

 very large roach fall victims. I may as w^ell confess that 

 personally my experiences with that bait have only been 

 very limited indeed; but still, I have an idea that they 

 might succeed in other waters where the fisherman never 

 dreams of using them. I have been told that in certain 

 still waters, and during very hot weather, they are the 

 grandest lure that can be put on a roach hook. 



There is another very deadly style of roach fishing that 

 I saw practised in very quiet Lincolnshire waters. The 



