250 COARSE FISH. 



roach-fishing, though a bag is still better for these large 

 fish. I have given instructions for making a cheap but 

 useful bag (p. 224). A few useful sundries that should 

 be carried in the basket are : a disgorger, measuring-tape, 

 a knife, steel-yard or spring-balance, thread, cobbler's wax, 

 float-caps, split and drilled shot, a few swivels, two or 

 three plummets of different patterns, bullets and leads of 

 various kinds, a pair of scissors, and a cloth to wipe the 

 hands on after handling fish, particularly bream. All 

 these are in frequent use, and there are many others too 

 numerous to mention. Many roach-fishers carry a 

 square-sided basket, which serves as a seat. 



Wasp-grubs are most killing baits for many coarse fish, 

 Wa but they are of an uncommonly "squashy" 

 grubs" natui 'e, far worse in this respect than gentles. 

 A very sharp-pointed hook, fine in the wire, 

 should be used with this bait. A slight baking, or steam- 

 ing (not boiling) will toughen the skins considerably. 

 Bream, roach and chub are excessively fond of wasp- 

 grubs. Taking a wasp's nest is rather exciting, a 

 sting being excruciating to most people. Wasps gener- 

 ally make their nests in the banks of ditches, and the 

 nest may be taken by placing a lighted portfire in the 

 hole after dusk, and covering the hole with a lump of 

 clay or turf after the portfire is inserted, which must be 

 smartly and quickly done. The comb, full of grubs, 

 should be dug out next morning ; any wasps that remain 

 alive are stupid with the fumes, but stray ones, that have 

 not entered the nest, may possibly make things lively. 

 The "cakes" of grubs may be bought from several 

 tackle-dealers, and this is certainly a nicer and safer 

 plan. 



A method that gives sport with dace, chub, trout, and 

 - sometimes roach, is to fish with a blow-line, with 



" 



line" a l n g' st iff r d> an d the wind of course at your 

 back. The line is made of very lightly spun, 

 fibrous silk, carried out by the wind, and a natural fly is 

 daped on the surface of the water. The rod is held in 

 an upright position to keep the 'blow-line off the water. 

 A short, fine cast should be used, with a grasshopper, 

 bluebottle, mayfly, or similar bait. 



