i84 COARSE FISH. 



tended to promptly. Allow plenty of time in 

 striking ; the bite is more " bobby " on the float 

 at first than a bream-bite ; but when the fish has 

 taken the bait, it sidles under in much the same 

 way. Almost any light rod will do for tench- 

 fishing, the long roach-rods being very useful to 

 drop the line quietly over edges of weeds, &c. ; but 

 it is best to employ running tackle for tench, as, 

 for their size, they fight well, their big fins giving 

 them power. Warm, muggy weather is best for 

 tench-fishing, but I have often caught them on 

 blazing hot days, fishing in a shady spot under the 

 boughs of some great tree. 



Worms are undoubtedly the standard bait for 



„ . tench ; I have also taken them with gentles 



Hsiits 



or lumps of bread-paste, which last some- 

 times entices them when worms fail to do so. I once 

 had a supply of very large brandlings from the 

 earth round some hot-water pipes in a green-house. 

 I found these almost irresistible, not threaded, but 

 looped on the hook here and there, quite loosely, 

 giving the fish plenty of time to suck them in. A 

 groundbaiting of chopped worms will do good, but 

 it also attracts eels at night, and they play havoc 

 with your fine tackle. With such fine casts as I 

 have described, it is perhaps needless to say the 

 running line must match, and a pliable rod rather 

 than a stiff one should be used ; this gives to the 

 strike, and will not break the fine tackle. Leger-lines 

 for tench should have very light leads to sink them, 

 pipe leads being better than bullets, as they will not 

 sink so easily in the mud. After throwing in, do not 

 pull the lead towards you, as this only helps to bury 

 the bait, but let it rest just where it falls, simply 

 reeling in the line until the weight is just felt. 



