130 BOTTOM FISHING IN THE NOTTINGHAM STYLE. 



account, however, of one that was found in a hole among 

 some old roots, in a piece of water, in which old rubbish had 

 been thrown for years ; it was ordered to be cleared out, 

 which when done a lot of fine tench were found, and this one 

 in the hole had literally assumed the shape of the place in 

 which he was found ; it weighed eleven pounds nine and a 

 half ounces, and is the largest on record. As a fish for the 

 table the tench is a good deal better than the carp ; his flesh 

 is white and firm, and not at all bad eating. The fish has a 

 very thick skin, and is very slimy. It has been called the 

 " physician of fishes," and the reason, it is said, why the pike 

 will not eat him, is because when the pike is wounded, the 

 pike rubs the injured place against the side of the tench. 

 Pike have been known to take tench occasionally, though it 

 is thought that this is the result of accident, rather than 

 design. 



The rod, reel, and line described and recommended in 

 chub and barbel fishing are right for carp and tench fishing. 

 As I have said before, your float should be as small as you 

 like, the self-cocking one will be the best if you can use it, 

 if not the lightest quill you have got, one that will carry four 

 or five small split shots will be quite big enough. In fact, 

 the remarks on the subject of floats in the chapter on roach 

 will fit in exactly for carp and tench fishing; the tackle 

 should be the same as recommended for chub, and as fine as 

 you dare fish with. The split shots should be very small and 

 a long way from the hook, which latter can be a No. 7 or 8. 

 A bit of bread can be steeped, well crushed up, and mixed 

 up with a handful of bran, if you intend to fish with paste, 

 but use your ground bait sparingly, don't toss a thousand or 

 two of worms in, the same as you would for a big barbel 

 swim ; a handful or two of worms, or bread and bran, at once 

 will be quite enough, if you are fishing with worms. I 

 believe a smart brandling is as good as any of these ; thread 



