THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 189 



you are to prepare your tackling : concerning which, I will, for 

 sport sake, give you an old rhyme out of an old fish-book, 



largest are taken after Michaelmas, and their prime season is in. February 

 or March. 



The baits for Roach not already mentioned, are end-bait and oak-worms, 

 for the spring; in May, ant's eggs, and paste made of the crumb of a new 

 roll, both white, and tinged with red, which is done by putting vermilion 

 into the water, wherewith you moisten it : this paste will do for the 

 winter also. 



The largest Roach in this kingdom are taken in the Thames, where 

 many have been caught of two pounds and a half weight : but Roach of 

 any size are hardly to be come at without a boat. 



The haunts of Dace are gravelly, sandy, and clayey bottoms ; deep holes 

 that are shaded; water-lily leaves; and under the foam caused by an 

 eddy : in hot weather they are to be found on the shallows, and are then 

 beat taken with an artificial fly, grasshoppers, or gentles, as hereafter 

 directed. 



Dace spawn about the latter end of March : and are in season about 

 three weeks after : they are not very good till about Michaelmas, and are 

 best in February. 



Baits for Dace, other than those mentioned by Walton, are the oak- 

 worm, red-worm, brandling, gilt tail; and indeed any worm, bred on 

 trees or bushes, that is not too big for his mouth ; almost all kinds of flies 

 and caterpillars. 



Though Dace are often caught with a float, as Roach, yet they are not 

 so properly float-fish : for they are to be taken with an artificial gnat, or 

 ant-fly, or indeed almost any other small fly in its season ; but in the 

 Thames, above Richmond, the largest are caught with a natural green or 

 dun grasshopper, and sometimes with gentles ; with both which you are 

 to fish as with an artificial fly. They are not to be come at till about 

 September, when the weeds begin to rot; but when you have found 

 where they lie, which, in a warm day, is generally on the shallows, it is 

 incredible what havoc you may make : pinch off the first joint of thegrass- 

 hopper's legs, put the point of the hook in at the head, and bring it put at 

 the tail ; and in this way of fishing you will catch Chub, especially if you 

 throw under the boughs. 



But this can be done only in a boat ; for the management whereof, be 

 provided with a staff, and a heavy stone fastened to a strong rope of four 

 or five yards in length : fasten the rope to the head of the boat, which, 

 whether it be a punt or a wherry, is equally fit for this purpose, and so 

 drive down with the stream : when you come to a shallow, or other place 

 where the fish are likely to lie, drop the stone, and, standing in the stern, 

 throw right down the stream, and a little to the right and left; after 

 trying about a quarter of an hour in a place, with the staff push the boat 

 about five yards down, and so throw again. Use a common fly-line, about 

 ten yards long, with a strong single hair next the hook. 



It is true, there is less certainty of catching in this way than with a float 

 or ground-bait : for which reason I would recommend it only to those 

 who live near the banks of that delightful river, between Windsor and 

 Isleworth, who have or can command a boat for that purpose, and can 

 take advantage of a still, warm, gloomy day ; and to such it will afford 

 much more diversion than the ordinary inartificial method of fisiung in the 

 deeps for Roach and Dace. 



In fishing at bottom for Roach and Dace, use for ground-bait bread 

 soaked about an hour in water, and an equal quantity of bran ; knead 

 them to a tough consistence, and make them up into balls, with a small 

 pebble in the middle, and throw these balls in where you fish ; but be 

 sure to throw them up the stream, for otherwise they will draw the fish 

 beyond the reach of your line. 



Fish for Roach within six, and for Dace, within three, inches of the 

 bottom. 

 Having enumerated the baits proper for every kind of fish in their 



