ROACH AND DACE. 211 



wishes in roach and dace fishing, as both fish bite very freely, and 

 are easily captured. 



They will bite at worms the smallest are the best gentles, 

 the cadis, grubs of all kinds, grasshoppers, small beetles, and ant's 

 eggs, particularly those of the great wood emmet. Their favorite 

 haunt, particularly that of the roach, is about decayed timber, 

 hatch or lock holes, or the piles or posts of bridges ; and in these 

 places the cadis is the best bait you can possibly employ, as long 

 as they can be met with ; and after their changing into flies, the 

 grasshopper will prove equally attractive ; and after the grass- 

 hopper, and indeed about the same time, the ant fly is a most sure 

 bait. The latter may be preserved alive for some time in a covered 

 vessel filled with dry earth ; but in which punctures must be made 

 so as to admit the air, otherwise they will all soon die. The blue 

 bottle fly is also highly esteemed both by roach and dace. 



With the worm, cadis, gentle, or ant eggs, a small float will be 

 necessary, and the tackle should be very fine ; stout gear being 

 unnecessary for this kind of fishing, if conducted in a skilful 

 manner. Some indeed fish only with the single hair next the hook, 

 but as silkworm gut can be procured almost equally fine, and five 

 times as strong : this, if kept clean, will generally be found to 

 answer the purpose much better. The hook should be very small, 

 and the cadis should be baited by running it into the head, and 

 bringing the point down towards the tail, and gentles should be 

 baited in the same manner. The bait should be sunk and kept as 

 near the timber as possible, and if the current prevents its re- 

 maining stationary in one spot, it should be drifted closely past. 

 A bite may be perceived by the float being drawn under, when, 

 giving a little time, strike gently, and either play your fish ashore, 

 or, |f he should prove a small one, pull him right out at 

 once. 



If the grasshopper or ant fly is used, the float should be dis- 

 pensed with, and sufficient lead being fixed to the line to sink it 

 to the bottom, the bait should be cast in as before, and having 

 sunk it to the ground, should be slowly raised to the surface ; if 

 a bite is felt in drawing up, yield to the fish a little, in order that 

 he get it well into his mouth, and then strike and play him as 

 above directed. It, however, often happens that a roach will 

 follow the bait to the surface, and there take it, though sometimes 

 he will only gaze at and turn back again, in which case sink again, 



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