BEST BAITS FOR TENCH. 359 



THE TENCH. Cyprinus Tinea. 



This mucous blackish olive carp inhabits 

 waters stagnant on a loamy, clayey soil, with a 

 soft muddy bottom. The best baits for tench are 

 red worms, gentles, pastes, caddies, larvse of all 

 kinds, such as flag-worms, wasp-grubs, and cater- 

 pillars. They will also take water and garden 

 snails. Fish close to the bottom, but not on it, 

 particularly if it is a soft, muddy one. Captain 

 Williamson says, " Tench do not swallow a bait 

 very quickly, sometimes holding it in their mouths 

 for a while ; therefore give them good time, and 

 let them either keep the float down, or, as is 

 often the case, let them rise with the bait, so as 

 to lay your float on the water. This is an excellent 

 sign, and warrants your striking, but rather 

 gently, lest the fish be only sucking the bait, for 

 he will seldom return after it is drawn from his 

 mouth." The best time for angling for tench is 



