454 PRACTICAL LESSONS IN THE GENTLE CRAFT. 



method of taking roach when they will not by any means 

 take a bait at the bottom of the river. Regard being had 

 to the best time of the year for roach-fishing, the autumn, 

 and better still, the winter months occupy the post of 

 honour. I personally have had some of the very finest takes 

 of roach in the winter months that man ever had in this 

 world, and I remember upon one occasion when fishing in 

 the Hampshire Avon I took 75 Ibs. of heavy roach in 

 5 hours. I took them all with a tight line not running 

 tackle and using an 1 8-foot rod over a very heavy stream 

 of swirling water. I had some of the finest sport you can 

 possibly imagine. There is no time better in the world than 

 the winter time for roach-fishing. On a sharp, crisp morning, 

 when the trees and grass are frosted all over with hoar ; 

 when you hear the robin's notes whistling out bright and 

 clear, and the sooty rook's harsh caw sounds less strident, 

 then is the time to go roach-fishing. 



I do not say the fish will feed very early in the morn- 

 ing, but when the sun gets up, the hoar begins to melt, 

 and there is a little softness in the ground, then the fish 

 begin to feed, and the deeper the selected swim consistent 

 with a fairly good convenience in fishing it, the better at 

 that period of the year. The fish are in the best condition ; 

 they are lusty, plump, and glowing with radiant colour. 1 

 know of no class of fish that makes a more thoroughly 

 good and handsome basket as the result of the angler's 

 toil, than a rattling good basket of roach. 



BARBEL FISHING. 



There is another highly popular branch of sport to which 

 the London angler is deeply attached, and that is barbel- 

 fishing. It is mostly practised on the Thames. I do not 

 say there are no barbel in the Lea, because I know there 



