64 ROACH, RUDD AND DACE. 



too much hangs loose, the fish may nibble but will seldom 

 take the whole in their mouths, and the angler will be 

 annoyed by finding part of the worm gone but that he has 

 missed his fish. 



Always keep the top of the rod over the float, and sufficient- 

 ly high to prevent any slack line touching the water, so as to 

 to strike lightly but quickly (the motion coming not from 

 the arm but from the wrist) the moment you observe the least 

 movement of the float, either by it being drawn under, or 

 thrown up a little. Do not strike too hard ; for the Roach, 

 being a tender-mouthed fish is hooked by a very slight jerk. 



When you have hooked a fish, raise the top of the rod and 

 place a slight strain on him by lowering the butt, by playing 

 him thus he will soon be ready for the landing net, an article 

 which will be found particularly useful if fishing from a high 

 bank or where the fish run large When fishing from the 

 bank with a twenty-feet rod and a tight line, it will be neces- 

 sary, of course, to remove the butt and large joint to bring 

 the fish within reach of the net. 



f HE Rudd is similar to the Roach in shape and color ; only 

 that it is rather broader and the body and gills are ting- 

 ed with a golden bronze. The under-fins and tail are a 

 bright red. They seldom exceed a pound in weight, 

 I thrive best in ponds and still waters with gravelly bottoms; 

 spawning about April. Angle for them at bottom the same 

 as Roach ; with a fine gut or hair line, No. 9 or 10 hook and 

 a light quill float. Bait with redworms, gentles or paste ; 

 ground-baiting as usual. 



f HE Dace is a handsome shaped fish, the body long and 

 of a bright silvery color ; the scales and fins small, the 

 latter being of a yellowish tinge. The largest I re- 



member to have seen was taken in the Thames near 



Hampton, with a worm, an4 weighed exactly one pound. The 

 river Colne is also noted for Dace of a large size, a great many 

 being taken near West Drayton. 



They are a sharp-biting fish and therefore require striking 

 quickly ; frequenting, during the summer months, shallows, 



