the compleat angler(垂钓大全)-第39节
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ponds usually breed the biggest。 But there is a kind of bastard small Roach；
that breeds in ponds； with a very forked tail； and of a very small size；
which some say is bred by the Bream and right Roach； and some ponds
are stored with these beyond belief； and knowing…men； that know their
difference； call them Ruds： they differ from the true Roach； as much as a
Herring from a Pilchard。 And these bastard breed of Roach are now
scattered in many rivers： but I think not in the Thames； which I believe
affords the largest and fattest in this nation； especially below London
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Bridge。 The Roach is a leather…mouthed fish； and has a kind of saw…like
teeth in his throat。 And lastly； let me tell you； the Roach makes an angler
excellent sport； especially the great Roaches about London； where I think
there be the best Roach…anglers。 And I think the best Trout…anglers be in
Derbyshire； for the waters there are clear to an extremity。
Next； let me tell you； you shall fish for this Roach in Winter； with
paste or gentles； in April； with worms or cadis； in the very hot months；
with little white snails； or with flies under water； for he seldom takes them
at the top； though the Dace will。 In many of the hot months； Roaches may
also be caught thus： take a May…fly； or ant…fly； sink him with a little lead to
the bottom； near to the piles or posts of a bridge； or near to any posts of a
weir； I mean any deep place where Roaches lie quietly； and then pull your
fly up very leisurely； and usually a Roach will follow your bait up to the
very top of the water； and gaze on it there； and run at it； and take it； lest the
fly should fly away from him。
I have seen this done at Windsor and Henley Bridge； and great store of
Roach taken； and sometimes； a Dace or Chub。 And in August you may fish
for them with a paste made only of the crumbs of bread； which should be
of pure fine manchet； and that paste must be so tempered betwixt your
hands till it be both soft and tough too： a very little water； and time； and
labour； and clean hands； will make it a most excellent paste。 But when you
fish with it； you must have a small hook； a quick eye； and a nimble hand；
or the bait is lost； and the fish too； if one may lose that which he never had。
With this paste you may； as I said； take both the Roach and the Dace or
Dare； for they be much of a kind； in manner of feeding； cunning； goodness；
and usually in size。 And therefore take this general direction； for some
other baits which may concern you to take notice of： they will bite almost
at any fly； but especially at ant…flies； concerning which take this direction；
for it is very good。
Take the blackish ant…fly out of the mole…hill or ant…hill； in which place
you shall find them in the month of June； or if that be too early in the year；
then； doubtless； you may find them in July； August； and most of
September。 Gather them alive； with both their wings： and then put them
into a glass that will hold a quart or a pottle； but first put into the glass a
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handful； or more； of the moist earth out of which you gather them； and as
much of the roots of the grass of the said hillock； and then put in the flies
gently； that they lose not their wings： lay a clod of earth over it； and then
so many as are put into the glass； without bruising； will live there a month
or more； and be always in readiness for you to fish with： but if you would
have them keep longer； then get any great earthen pot； or barrel of three or
four gallons。 which is better。 then wash your barrel with water and honey；
and having put into it a quantity of earth and grass roots； then put in your
flies； and cover it； and they will live a quarter of a year。 These； in any
stream and clear water； are a deadly bait for Roach or Dace； or for a Chub：
and your rule is to fish not less than a handful from the bottom。
I shall next tell you a winter…bait for a Roach； a Dace； or Chub； and it
is choicely good。 About All…hallantide； and so till frost comes； when you
see men ploughing up heath ground； or sandy ground； or greenswards；
then follow the plough； and you shall find a white worm； as big as two
maggots； and it hath a red head： you may observe in what ground most are；
for there the crows will be very watchful and follow the plough very close：
it is all soft； and full of whitish guts； a worm that is； in Norfolk and some
other counties； called a grub； and is bred of the spawn or eggs of a beetle；
which she leaves in holes that she digs in the ground under cow or horse
dung； and there rests all winter； and in March or April comes to be first a
red and then a black beetle。 Gather a thousand or two of these； and put
them； with a peck or two of their own earth； into some tub or firkin； and
cover and keep them so warm that the frost or cold air； or winds； kill them
not： these you may keep all winter； and kill fish with them at any time； and
if you put some of them into a little earth and honey； a day before you use
them； you will find them an excellent bait for Bream； Carp； or indeed for
almost any fish。
And after this manner you may also keep gentles all winter； which are
a good bait then； and much the better for being lively and tough。 Or you
may breed and keep gentles thus： take a piece of beast's liver； and； with a
cross stick； hang it in some corner； over a pot or barrel half full of dry clay；
and as the gentles grow big； they will fall into the barrel and scour
themselves； and be always ready for use whensoever you incline to fish；
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and these gentles may be thus created till after Michaelmas。 But if you
desire to keep gentles to fish with all the year； then get a dead cat； or a kite；
and let it be flyblown； and when the gentles begin to be alive and to stir；
then bury it and them in soft moist earth； but as free from frost as you can；
and these you may dig up at any time when you intend to use them： these
will last till March； and about that time turn to be flies。
But if you be nice to foul your fingers； which good anglers seldom are；
then take this bait： get a handful of well…made malt； and put it into a dish
of water； and then was＇l and rub it betwixt your hands till you make it
clean； and as free from husks as you can； then put that water from it； and
put a small quantity of fresh water to it； and set it in something that is fit
for that purpose； over the fire； where it is not to boil apace； but leisurely
and very softly； until it become somewhat soft； which you may try by
feeling it betwixt your finger and thumb； and when it is soft； then put your
water from it： and then take a sharp knife； and turning the sprout end of
the corn upward with the point of your knife； take the back part of the
husk off from it； and yet leaving a kind of inward husk on the corn； or else
it is marr'd and then cut off that sprouted end； I mean a little of it； that the
white may appear； and so pull off the husk on the cloven side； as I directed
you； and then cutting off a very little of the other end； that so your hook
may enter； and if your hook be small and good； you will find this to be a
very choice bait； either for winter or summer； you sometimes casting a
little of it into the place where your float swims。
And to take the Roach and Dace； a good bait is the young brood of
wasps or bees； if you dip their heads in blood； especially good for Bream；
if they be baked； or hardened in their husks in an oven； after the bread is
taken out of it； or hardened on a fire…shovel： and so also is the thick blood
of sheep； being half dried on a trencher； that so you may cut into such
pieces as may best fit the size of your hook； and a little salt keeps it from
growing black； and makes it not the worse； but better： this is taken to be a
choice bait； if rightly ordered。
There be several oils of a strong smell that I have been told of； and to
be excellent to tempt fish to bite； of which I could say much。 But I
remember I once carried a
