54 CARP AND TENCH. 



worm; fish very fine, with a No. 10 hook and a very small 

 quill float. It is essential that the bait should cover the 

 entire hook and look fresh and tempting. Fish two or three 

 inches from the bottom. 



f HE Tench is not so handsome a fis.h as the Carp ; it is 

 short and thick, and when large, nearly as broad as long. 

 The fins and tail are large and of a purple hue ; the 



^^ scales are extremely small, of a darjt greenish gold color 



and covered with a thick slimy matter. The Tench is a pond 

 fish, thriving best in water where the bottom is weedy and 

 muddy ; it is also found in rivers of a similar character, and 

 is taken occasionally in some parts of the Thames and Lea ; 

 spawning in May and June and being very soon in good con- 

 dition. From July to October are the best months ; though if 

 the weather be very warm, they are sometimes taken in 

 March. During the winter they bury themselves in the mud 

 like Eels. In favorable situations they have been known to 

 attain a weight of nine pounds ; but this is of rare occurrence 

 in this country and they will be seldom found to exceed four 

 pounds although they grow fast. Tench, like Carp are 

 exceedingly tenacious of life, and when packed in wet grass 

 or moss, may be carried long distances without danger of 

 losing their lives. 



A clear redworm or small lobworm will be found the best 

 bait ; wasp-grubs, gentles and paste are also used. Tench 

 require ground-baiting in a similar manner to Barbel. A 

 light stiff rod, with running tackle, should be used, and if 

 fishing in a pond, a small quill float and No. 8 hook with a 

 redworm, or a size smaller for gentle or wasp-grub ; if the 

 bottom is very muddy, fish an inch or two from it. 



Although the Tench is not a particularly shy fish, yet he 

 bites slower than most others, sometimes remaining with the 

 bait between his lips for a short time before taking it into his 

 mouth ; therefore do not strike directly, but let him take the 

 float well down, or as he will often do, rise with the bait, and 

 cause the float to lay flat on the surface. When this occurs, 

 strike smartly, but not too hard ; playing him carefully, so 

 as to keep clear of the weeds. 



