THE EOACH. 33 



and the stroke on the float is instantaneous and free. 

 Thus they obviate the necessity of using those long Lea 

 rods, which are cumbrous in the extreme, and require two 

 hands to hold them. But it is also certain that they can- 

 not strike so accurately, and thus lose more fish and bites. 

 But, whatever rod or style the angler adopts, this tackle 

 must be of the lightest and neatest; you cannot have it 

 too fine for roach fishing, and I quite agree with the Eev. 

 James Martin whose " Angler's G-uide," published in 

 1854, contains the best directions as regards roach fishing 

 ever published that you cannot be too nice or particular 

 on this head. Over and over again have I seen single hair 

 beat the finest and most delicately stained gut; and 

 though at one time I was rather sceptical on this point, I 

 am now a complete believer that the finer the tackle you 

 can conveniently use the better, and that nothing goes 

 down so well with shy roach as single hair. You must 

 keep yourself out of sight, too, as well as your tackle. 

 You need not get behind a tree, but it is as well to have 

 one at your back when you are fishing from a bank. I 

 have often noticed the difference evinced by the move- 

 ments of the fish when the angler was visible from the 

 bank and when he could put himself in front of a tree, and 

 the difference would scarcely be credited. 



I have running through my field one of the finest 

 roach rivers within fifty miles of London, and where 

 the roach are unusually fine and good. I have fished 

 at all times of the year, and under all kinds of cir- 

 cumstances for years, and have full experience of what 

 I state. In coloured water, of course, less caution is 

 necessary, though even then fine tackle will tell on the 

 catch, but in clear water, unless you can keep out of 

 sight, you will not catch a fish, and at the best you will 



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