PRACTICAL LESSONS IN THE GENTLE CRAFT. 511 



less, and await events. A bite is first indicated by a 

 trembling of the line ; give him plenty of time, and presently, 

 if master tench means business, the winch handles begin to 

 slowly revolve and the line to sneak away yard after yard ; 

 then strike, not too hard, for he has a leathery mouth, and 

 the hooks are sure to hold, and the probability is that if he is 

 a good fish there will ensue a " leetle fight " before he caves 

 in. Never be in a hurry when tench-fishing, and the float 

 indicates some hidden attentions this fish will mumble and 

 suck at your worm or gentles for a long time in some 

 cases, before he finally makes up his mind to do or die 

 then the float either goes slowly down, and out of sight, or 

 it may rise up, and seem half inclined to topple over, and 

 then move along the surface, or it may be raised up, and 

 laid flat on the water, indicating that a fish has taken the 

 bait, and has risen to the surface either are critical 

 moments, and one is warranted in striking at once. Sweet 

 paste, made from stale bread-crumb, and judiciously 

 blended with honey, kills tench well at times, at others they 

 won't look at it. Wasp grubs are another good bait, and 

 caddis worms occasionally make their mark, while gentles 

 are at times taken greedily. Worms, however, clean and 

 well scoured, seem at all times to be the most favourite 

 lure, and although I am aware that many anglers will 

 disagree with me, I prefer the lobworm to any, even to 

 the red worm, or brilliantly striped brandling. Bright, clean 

 and tough, I am inclined to think that nothing beats the 

 lob for big fish, and the bigger the inhabitants of the pool 

 are, the more they seem to like it. 



