162 COARSE FISH. 



I had a very pretty reed float, but it was tender 

 in use, and at last I split it somewhere ; the con- 

 sequence was the float became waterlogged after 

 a few swims, and sank. Since then I have used 

 more solid floats, the floating power being in their 

 actual substance, and not from air inside the float. 

 A very nice roach-float is made of tapered cork and 

 quill, coloured black, excepting an inch at the top, 

 which is left white. Personally, I prefer white tops 

 to roach-floats, though some like them red, and a 

 yellow-tipped float can be seen for a long distance. 

 The roach-fisher should provide himself with at 

 least half a dozen ready-fitted tackles, with different 

 sized floats to suit various swims. 



Shotting requires care. The smallest shot should 

 be nearest the hook, the largest ones nearest 

 5 the float ; that is, when different sizes are 

 used. Do not put all the shot close together, as 

 the tackle does not then fish so well ; begin rather 

 with a tiny shot nine or ten inches from the hook, two 

 or three others, about an inch and a half apart, above 

 it. Then place (in a heavy tackle) five or six shots, 

 B B, fairly close together, the lowest being about 

 three inches from the topmost small shot ; then miss 

 six inches of line, and nip on another batch of shot, 

 increasing the numbers in the batches as you get 

 nearer the float. Use as few shot as possible in any 

 still water ; if you must throw out a long way, lap 

 a little lead round the lower end of the float, this 

 gives weight to carry the line out when float-tackle 

 is used ; or squeeze a pellet of stiff groundbait 

 round three shot placed about an inch apart on the 

 gut, if you are fishing without a float. 



The groundbait for roach, which must be pre- 

 pared with special care, is generally composed of 



