126 THE BEST INSECTS FOR DIBBING. 



drop on the water, and others as they sail along 

 its surface. Large fish seldom jump at an insect 

 which is on the water ; they rise up to it, and 

 inhale it. if I may use the word, through the 

 water. Observe this operation, and just as it is 

 being completed strike at your fish. As your rod 

 and other tackle are strong in dibbing, do not give 

 your fish much play ; keep him on the top of the 

 water, his head out of it if you can, and you will 

 soon tire him. 



Several sorts of insects besides flies are used 

 for dibbing, such as cockchafers, beetles, bees, 

 ants, moths, grasshoppers, &c. Flies, however, 

 are the best for trout. The May-fly, March- 

 brown, stone-fly, oak-fly, house-flies, and moths 

 towards evening, are those most eagerly taken by 

 them. The grasshopper is a most deadly bait for 

 grayling and chub. 



There is a little book, called the ' North 

 Country Angler,' and written by a north-country- 

 man, which contains much sound information 

 upon dibbing. The writer seems to have been a 

 sort of poaching angler, taking an especial delight 

 in using the most killing baits, and caring very 

 little whether the method he adopts or recom- 

 mends be sportsrnan-like or not. He would no 

 doubt estimate sport by the number or weight of 

 fish killed, and not by the difficulty experienced 

 in killing them. We will take him, however, as 



