DAPPING 99 



dropped on the water and dibbled i.e., moved 

 as like a struggling insect as possible with a very 

 short line. This style requires an extremely 

 well-balanced nervous system, since, in most 

 cases, a sudden dash is made at the dap, and it 

 is very difficult to help responding too quickly and 

 before the trout has got it fairly into its mouth. 



For about the first fortnight of June the most 

 fatal of all dapping baits ought to be essayed. 

 This is the green caterpillar to be shaken from 

 the foliage of oaks and elms, more particularly 

 the former, by means of a pole. The caterpillars 

 can be carried in a flat tobacco-tin with a few 

 leaves. This necessitates a changed tackle, and 

 instead of the Pennell, but one hook is used, say 

 a No. 8 Model-Perfect taper shank, and the pellet of 

 No. 8 shot is fixed eight inches above it. Baiting 

 is rather a ticklish job, as if the skin of the cater- 

 pillar is burst it would, of course, be useless. It 

 is a good plan to smear the entire hook with a 

 crushed caterpillar, which helps in slipping on 

 one for use. Insert the hook in the centre of the 

 blunt end, and humour the bait carefully to the 

 top of the shank, leaving the barb inside. This 

 most killing dap is fished as before, but plenty of 

 time must be given, six seconds or so, on feeling a 

 touch before striking. 



