THE ROACH. 



ROACH-FISHING is without doubt the most popu- 

 lar branch of coarse fishing ; the votaries of the art 

 are most enthusiastic, braving all weathers and 

 conditions of water without scruple in its pursuit. 

 Thousands of anglers commence roach-fishing 

 directly their stickleback and minnow age is passed, 

 and they fish for roach through youth, manhood 

 and old age with the utmost enthusiasm. Surely, 

 no other fish has given sport and enjoyment to so 

 many as the roach. Placed within the reach of 

 the humblest of anglers, a passable fish for the 

 table and affording good sport on the exquisitely 

 fine tackle necessary for its capture, it is not won- 

 derful that the roach should possess such great 

 attraction for anglers of all ages and positions. 

 Every one who knows much about roach, will agree 

 that considerable skill is required to make a good 

 bag when the *fish are shy or much fished for ; 

 there are, it is true, many instances of very large 

 roach having been taken on the roughest and 

 coarsest of tackle, but this mostly happens when 

 the water is thick and the fish are congregated 

 together in an eddy Let the lucky angler, how- 

 ever, who has taken fish on coarse tackle, try his 



