THE TENCH. 183 



the water, when he dropped off. This was a mar- 

 vellous find ; and on the next half-holiday two of 

 us, armed with what we thought the correct tackle, 

 paid another visit to the pond, and secured .some 

 half-dozen fish between us, the largest perhaps a 

 pound in weight. Of course we told the news at 

 school, and a large party was organised, only to be 

 promptly ordered off by an irate farmer ; but I 

 am afraid we had a few more tench in spite of his 

 prohibition. 



Tench-fishing is just the thing for those who can 

 enjoy a lazy day, although an hour about daybreak 

 is frequently worth all the rest for sport. Light rods 

 and very fine tackle can be used, for, though they 

 are caught larger, a three- pound tench is a very 

 good fish, and you will probably catch scores and 

 scores of them before getting one of that weight. 



Where the bottom is very muddy, the bait should 

 be kept off it by using a float that will Float 

 support a worm and shot ; but the tackle tackle 

 I have found most effective is a very fine quill 

 float, looped on by the lower ring only as in bream- 

 fishing, two yards of the finest undrawn gut stained 

 brown, No. 6, 7, or 8 sneck-bent hook, and one ' 

 shot about eighteen inches from the bait. This 

 tackle can only be used in still water and on calm 

 days. Tench may be legered for with light Leger- 

 tackle, and I have caught many in that '"S 

 way, but it is not necessary to get so far out for 

 them as in carp-fishing, as they will feed almost at 

 your very feet when they once begin. Proceed as 

 directed in carp-fishing in either style, resting the 

 rod on the ground, and arranging the line to run 

 out freely to a fish. When you find the tench are 

 feeding, the rod should be held and the fish at- 



