Dace and Chub. 



and bushes, and casting is impos- 

 sible, the dapping method may be 

 used with effect. For this purpose 

 a floss line may be used. It con- 

 sists of fine undressed silk, which 

 is caught by the wind and blown 

 up or across stream. Natural 

 flies are mounted, and impaled on 

 a small round bend hook, through 

 the back, so that 'they alight in 

 the natural position. Any of the 

 ephemeridae afloat on the water 

 will prove serviceable for this pur- 

 pose, A place is chosen where the 

 rod can be thrust through or over 

 the bushes. With the wind at 

 one's back the fly is carried up 

 stream and settles on the water. 

 By raising the point of the rod it 

 touches the surface lightly, and 

 daps on it in the manner of the 

 natural insect. A grasshopper is 

 an admirable bait to dap with. 

 By these means excellent sport 

 may be obtained where the fish 

 are plentiful, and good specimens 

 are often found in such places. 



The favourite method in fishing 

 for dace is with the artificial fly. 

 With the wet fly the river is fished 

 down stream. Three flies may be 

 mounted and, casting across the 

 river, they are caught by the cur- 

 rent and swept down. When the 

 line is fully stretched they are 

 gently worked up by bringing the 

 rod gradually back over the shoul- 

 der. When a dace rises there is 

 a break in the water, and a sharp 

 turn of the wrist secures him. If 

 the fly has not been taken another 

 cast is made over the spot where 

 he rose. In this way, yard by yard, 

 the swim should be fished from 

 top to bottom. 



The dry-fly method is to fish 

 up stream, and in clear water is 

 the most effective. Fishing down 

 stream, especially in bright sun- 

 light, the angler can be seen, and 

 the fish dart off. Up stream one 

 is behind them, and not so much 

 in evidence, although due caution 



is to be observed. By stooping 

 close to the bank a long cast can 

 be made. It is usual to wait until 

 the fish rises. In the case of dace 

 one has not to wait long, as when 

 flies are on the water they rise 

 freely. Noting the place where 

 the break occurs, and a drifting 

 ephemera has been sucked down, 

 a dry fly uited to pattern is cast 

 above ih'e* spot. The imitation 

 with wings erect begins to drift 

 down stream, a cunning device, 

 capable of deceiving the elect 

 among fishes. It is an exciting 

 moment when the fly reaches the 

 spot where its prototype has dis- 

 appeared ; then comes the break, 

 and the answering strike from the 

 rod, there is a flash and plunge, 

 and the playing of the dace 

 begins. 



There is a great variety of flies 

 which can be used in wet and 

 dry patterns, black gnat, March 

 browns, Wickham fancy, various 

 coloured duns, silver sedge, 

 coachman, &c., any of which, 

 using oo (and ooo in bright sun- 

 shine), are suitable. 



As fly-fishing comes more pro- 

 perly under the head of game 

 fishing, descriptions of rods and 

 tackle, and hints on methods of 

 casting, must be deferred until that 

 section of the subject is reached. 

 For dace a g-ft. or " feather- 

 weight " rod is most suitable. 



CHUB (Leuciscus cephalus). 



As the most interesting chub 

 fishing is obtained with the fly, it 

 naturally falls under this section. 

 The fish is easily distinguished by 

 its broad, thick-set head. The 

 anal and ventral pink fins differen- 

 tiate him from dace, and the 

 absence of red-rimmed eyes from 

 rudd and roach. Those who have 

 been curious enough to taste his 

 flesh have concluded that he is 

 intended for sport rather than diet, 

 although Walton gives a recipe 



