NORFOLK BROAD AND RIVER FISHING. 365 



deeper waters, and are sometimes found in quantities in the deep 

 water known as Thorpe Broad, which is at the junction of the 

 old river and new cut just below Norwich ; and they gather in 

 deep spots on the Bure and other rivers, where they may be 

 angled for with success. 



The best period of the year in which to fish for roach here 

 is from July to October ; but good catches are often had 

 throughout the winter in fairly mild weather, and I have even 

 seen enthusiastic anglers fishing over the edge of the ice. In 

 the summer months the mornings and evenings are the best 

 times, and as a rule but few fish are caught during the middle 

 of the day. This is especially the case in bright warm weather, 

 but on dull days the roach will often bite fairly throughout the 

 day. 



The morning up to 11.30, and from three to six or seven in 

 the evening, are undoubtedly the best hours in the summer, 

 while the middle of the day is best in the winter. 



The best fish are found during the summer in the deepest 

 water, in the Yare they should not be fished for at a less depth 

 than nine or ten feet, and on the Bure in the deepest spots that 

 can be found. In March and April they prefer shallower v, aters. 



The direction of the tide does not of itself appear to affect 

 them, except that they always work against it swimming any- 

 how at the slack, and when it has changed swimming head to 

 the stream. In some swims the angler gets all his fish on the 

 flood-tide, and in other swims on the ebb ; but this probably 

 results from certain local formations of the river-bed which 

 change the set of the currents and eddies. 



Ground-baiting for roach beforehand is never practised 

 on the rivers, although it occasionally is on the Broads. The 

 varying currents prevent it being of use in the rivers. The 

 angler therefore trusts to keep the fish close to him by a con- 

 tinuous ground-baiting during his fishing. For this purpose 

 the best ground-bait is composed of bran, bread and boiled 

 wheat made up into firm balls about the size of an orange. 

 One of these is thrown in occasionally, and, with the addition 



