TACKLE FOR POND- FISHING. 59 



is usually almost dead water when it is low, and consequently 

 a place where weeds grow luxuriantly. After the first few 

 frosts of winter the weeds begin to rot, and the roach soon 

 work out of them. Their movements now depend as much on 

 the height and colour of the water as in summer, hut are also 

 influenced by the temperature, which, if low, drives them into 

 deeper water. They also like quieter swims than in summer, 

 and always prefer a sandy bottom to any other; but I have, 

 however, often done well on mud in winter. Late evening and 

 early morning are not good times of the day for roach-fishing 

 in cold weather. During the day there is usually a genial period 

 of from one and a half to two hours in length ; the sun may 

 come out, or try at it, and the chilly feeling goes oft' for a while. 

 Sometimes the geniality comes about eleven or twelve o'clock, 

 sometimes not until three ; but whenever it comes, then the fish 

 are almost sure to bite. Winter fishing requires a good deal 

 of enthusiasm on the part of the angler to be enjoyable, but if 

 persevered with, it usually repays the trouble devoted to it, for 

 the fish caught are always in excellent condition, afford good 

 sport, and run larger than those taken during the summer. 

 The remarks in Chapter I. as to the position of fish in winter 

 should be re^-d in connection with this part of my subject. 



Roach-fishing in Lakes, Broads, Meres, Ponds, and 

 Canals. — Roach-fishing in still water is a much simpler matter 

 than in rivers. As a rule, the fish are not particularly shy, 

 and fine float tackle — a modification of that shown on page 25 

 — will suffice to catch them. The float should be very small 

 — a porcupine quill is as good as anything — and there should 

 be at most one or two small shots, about 1ft. to 1ft. 6in. from 

 the hook. If gut is used, it cannot be too fine. Best of all is 

 self -cocking float tackle (see page 49), as no shot are then placed 

 on the line, and the bait sinks at about the same rate to the 

 bottom as if no hook and line were attached to it. The objection 

 to this arrangement is the difficulty of getting the gut quite 

 straight (in the other case, the weight of shot straightens it), 

 and if gut hangs in curls no fish are likely to be caught. After 

 a good long soaking it is not difficult to nearly take out the 

 curls ; but the best plan is to soak the tackle for an hour the 



