174 COARSE FISH. 



dition. Even a tussock of grass will serve as 

 shelter for roach in heavy floods, and the tiny eddy 

 it helps to make may be full of fish, so that such 

 spots should never be neglected, although they 

 appear so insignificant. The loop-throw (pulling 

 a loop or loops of line down through the rings) is 

 very useful in roach-fishing, as quite a light float 

 may be thrown a considerable distance by this 

 method, taking care not to let the line that forms 

 the loop run out too fast, or it will lap round the 

 rod. Another throw for light tackle was lately 

 shown me by Mr. Slater, at the Westminster 

 Aquarium. The baited hook . is grasped between 

 the left-hand thumb and first finger, the line being 

 wound in on the winch till there is considerable 

 bend on the rod, the rod top being lowered near 

 the surface of the water till the instant of making 

 the throw arrives. The rod is then smartly thrown 

 upwards, the hook being released at the same 

 moment. The winch is also made to revolve by a 

 gentle tap or draw of the third or little finger of 

 the left hand on the underside of the rim at the 

 same time. The spring of the rod carries the 

 tackle out, and the distance an expert can throw 

 by this method is astonishing. A very free- 

 running light winch and fine line are requisite. 

 Another way, which is extremely simple, is to 

 grasp the roach-rod by the right hand only, below 

 the winch, checking the winch till, the instant of 

 the throw by the pressure of the thumb, the rod 

 is brought well back and the tackle is thrown 

 forwards with a long, steady sweep, releasing the 

 thumb pressure when the impetus is imparted. 

 The winch is checked as may be required, and 

 stopped by the thumb when the throw is com- 



