50 AN ANGLER'S YEAR 



the sportsman as would a brace and a half of 21b. trout 

 to the average dry-flyfisher. If you don't believe it, try 

 it and see. 



WINTER ROACH FISHING. 



IT is not necessary nowadays to sing the praises of 

 roach fishing, when we have the eloquent testimony of 

 Fennell and Senior. 



As regards roach-tackle the author's ideas are very 

 catholic ; in fact, his experience is that, tight line or 

 Nottingham rod, ledger or float, tight corking or sink- 

 and-draw, more depends on the fisherman than upon his 

 tackle if it is fine enough. 



It will be noted that the record of two days is given, 

 one unsuccessful though promising well, the other 

 successful though promising badly. These are actual 

 days enjoyed during the same winter, and are singled 

 out in order to give some idea of a grand winter sport. 



No doubt roach fishing of sorts is to be got through- 

 out the United Kingdom, but large roach are getting, 

 alas! few and far between ; and such alone are worthy of 

 the foeman's steel. In this chapter it will be my 

 endeavour to point out where and how specimens of 

 these educated fish may still be obtained. 



To the enthusiastic fisherman, who aims at being an 

 all-round angler, a day in pursuit of large roach is an 

 experience which, once enjoyed, is usually frequently 

 repeated. The month of October, before winter has yet 

 chilled the country with her icy breath, when frosty 

 nights are succeeded by bright sunshiny days, is 

 undoubtedly the season when this form of sport is in its 

 prime. The snug bedroom in the old-fashioned country 

 inn, the early rise, the cold splash, the arrangement of 

 tackle, the mixing of ground bait, &c., prepare the 

 jaded town-dweller for doing justice to the plentiful 

 wholesome breakfast. One gets on the water when the 

 day is (in country parlance), thoroughly aired, and as the 

 punt drops down the river, or the old brown horse steps 

 smartly along, the early pipe is smoked, and the clean, 



