52 AN ANGLER'S YEAR 



grand old river. Still, some waters remain where 

 good roach are the rule and not the exception, notably 

 the Kennet and Avon. On these rivers, if in condition, 

 the angler, with average skill, fine tackle and anything 

 like luck, ought to be able to take a fair bag of roach, 

 averaging over lib. apiece. 



The words " average skill " have been used with 

 reason. How often do we find the clever dry-fly man 

 or the accomplished salmon fisherman fail absolutely in 

 the capture of these fish, through forgetting that for 

 every fisherman fishing over an individual trout twenty 

 have tried their apparatus over a large roach in free 

 water? Nowadays it is only the hungry youngsters of 

 some secluded pond that still think that every bait is a 

 gift direct from the gods, and reck not that danger 

 lurks within the bunch of wriggling gentles, and that 

 sudden translation to another sphere is frequently the 

 result of gluttony. Sometimes, however, the stars in 

 their courses seem to fight against even the most 

 skilful angler, and a combination of circumstances 

 may lead to unmerited failure. A short account of one 

 of these unsuccessful expeditions may prove interesting 

 or instructive, even if affording little more than food 

 for criticism. 



Arriving one night in November with a friend at the 

 best inn of the little village of Downton on the Wiltshire 

 Avon, we mad^ all arrangements for getting off to the 

 water by 8.30 next morning. At that hour we stepped 

 aboard the old square punt with all our impedimenta, 

 armed with roach pole, Nottingham rod, and pike rod 

 apiece, so as to be prepared for any eventuality. 

 Shoving off out of the dyke, we slowly dropped down 

 the river, and, as a strong northerly wind was blowing, 

 the punt was kept under the shelter of the north bank. 

 Two or three swims were tried, but were found to be 

 still hampered by weed. Finally it was decided really 

 a case of Hobson's choice that the punt should be 

 poled down to a deep swim on the opposite bank and 

 anchored at the upper end, the ground bait put in, and 

 the water fished with roach pole and tight line, not 



