106 PRACTICAL LESSONS IN RIVER ANGLING. 



day, go to any hole where chub is known to haunt, 

 and probably thirty or forty of them may be seen 

 basking themselves on the surface of the water. You 

 must be sure to place yourself out of sight behind some 

 bush or tree, for the chub will fly to the bottom of the 

 water at the very shadow of your rod, being the most 

 fearful of all fish, and will also make instantly to the 

 bottom on the shadow of a bird flying over the 

 water, but will presently arise and be floating on the 

 top again ; at which time move your rod slowly, let 

 your bait fall softly on the water three or four inches 

 before him, and he will infallibly take it. As he is a 

 leather- mouthed fish, out of which a hook scarce ever 

 loses its hold, you may therefore give him play enough 

 before you offer to take him out of the water. 



There are many baits to take the chub, such as a black 

 snail, with its belly slit to show the white : sometimes 

 a worm, or any kind of fly, as the ant fly, flesh fly, 

 dor or beetle, or a bob, which is a short, white worm, 

 like to, but bigger than, a gentle, or a cod or case-worm ; 

 he will take any of these very well, and never refuses a 

 grasshopper at the top of a swift stream, or a young 

 wasp-grub at the bottom. These grubs are found in the 

 holes of banks, and discovered by the old ones going in 

 and out, and are often found by the mowers while 

 cutting grass : they must be boiled or baked before 

 used : the chub will likewise bite at red cherries, pro- 

 vided you bait the pool with them the night before 

 you fish. The landing-net is particularly necessary in 

 angling for chub, as the best spots are generally en- 

 cumbered by trees or bushes. 



