CHAP. XVII.] THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



201 



ference call them Ruds : they differ from the true Roach as 

 much as a Herring from a Pilchard. And these bastard breed 

 of Roach are now scattered in many rivers, but I think not in 

 the Thames, which I believe affords the largest and fattest in 

 this nation, especially below London Bridge. The Roach is 

 a leather - mouthed fish, and has a kind of saw - like teeth in 

 his throat. And lastly, let me tell you, the Roach makes an 

 Angler excellent sport, especially the great Roaches about Lon- 

 don, where I think there be the best Roach- Anglers ; and I 

 think the best Trout- Anglers be in Derbyshire, for the waters 

 there are clear to an extremity. 



Next, let me tell you, you shall fish for this ROACH in winter 



with paste or gentles; in April, with worms or cadis; in 

 the very hot months, with little white snails, or with flies 

 under water, for he seldom takes them at the top, though the 

 Dace will. In many of the hot months, Roaches may also be 

 caught thus : take a May-fly or Ant-fly, sink him with a little 

 lead to the bottom near to the piles or posts of a bridge, or 

 near to any posts of a weir, I mean any deep place where 

 Roaches lie quietly, and then pull your fly up very leisurely, and 

 usually a Roach will follow your bait to the very top of the 



