BAIT FOR CHUB. 147 



nevertheless recommend the same tackle as that suggested 

 for the carp. The lighter the tackle, the easier it is to 

 deceive the fish, and the greater the merit in overcoming 

 him. 



The baits generally recommended for chub-fishing are 

 red worms, gentles, grubs, bits of cheese, insects, etc., 

 but as the chub is a gross feeder, he prefers large baits to 

 small ones invariably. A lob- worm will tempt him, while 

 a smaller one would be unheeded ; and a cockchafer will 

 attract him, when a lesser insect would excite no attention 

 whatever. The best summer bait for this fish is perhaps 

 a live humble bee of the largest size. If the angler will 

 pass his hook under the forelegs of the bee without in- 

 juring him, and, concealing himself behind a tree, or 

 any other shelter which may overhang the haunt of the 

 chub, will dibble the bee on the surface of the water, 

 allowing him to burr and spin, and produce little circles 

 nil about; he will soon see the chub rise leisurely out of 

 the deep, and gently suck the bee into his mouth, as an 

 alderman laps up his callipee. In this manner precisely 

 the large one recorded in our notice of the chub, was 

 caught in the Thames, in May 1844. 



Occasionally the chub will take a minnow or frog; but 

 this happens very seldom, at the close of the spring. 

 Baits have been recommended for different seasons, in 

 chub -fishing; but may of them are fanciful, and some 

 nasty. Flies and worms will catch him at all times, 

 and he is not worth being very nice about. Grasshoppers 

 are fine baits whenever you can get them ; and little pills, 

 made of tallow and cheese, flavoured with musk, are said 

 to be peculiarly tempting. The French fish for him with 

 cherries; but they wisely consider the bait of more value 

 than the fish, and seldom give themselves any trouble 

 about him. 



