ROACH. 129 



Different anglers have different modes of angling. I 

 am happy to be able to lay the following results of a 

 large experience before my readers. I am indebted 

 for them to a gentleman who is one of the best prac- 

 tical anglers about London.* He says, " In angling 

 for roach, in all clear rivers or streams, and especially 

 in the river Lea, I always use a single hair line; trans- 

 parent quill float, carrying from ten to twenty, or even 

 thirty, fine shot, according to the rapidity or depth of 

 the water; a No. 10 hook, very fine wire, and broad 

 in the bend; and not more than one shot on the hook 

 length, which I place about a foot from the hook, just 

 to steady the bait. Excepting only in the deep and 

 rapid parts of the Thames, I invariably use a paste 

 bait, made of the crumb of fine white bread, one day 

 old, which I dip in the water, then squeeze with clean 

 hands, and work into the consistency of fresh putty 

 putting on a piece about the size of a swan-shot. I 

 am convinced, from experience, that there is not any 

 bait so enticing to roach as this is. Sometimes, when 

 the water is coloured, from heavy rains or the opening 

 of flood-gates, I have found my sport much increased 

 by tinging the paste with a little vermilion, making it 

 a deep pink or rose colour. With this red paste I have 

 frequently taken perch and chub, and occasionally a 

 trout; but I never use wool, essential oils, or scents, in 

 which I put no faith. To ensure success, and to draw 

 the fish into any particular swim, it is quite necessary 

 to occasionally throw in a few balls of ground bait, 

 made of well-soaked bread and bran, kneaded together 

 till very adhesive, then broken into pieces of about the 

 size of a walnut, in which, if deep water, or much 

 * Mr. George Pratt, of Canonbury-square, Islington, 

 K 



