10 



The Gentle Art of Angling. 



for cooking him. The rivers in 

 the days of Isaac were purer than 

 in ours. I am of opinion that the 

 chub, like the barbel, is not a clean 

 feeder, but helps himself liberally 

 to any offal that may find its way 

 into the river. As a warning to 

 experimenting on his flesh, it may 

 be hinted that I know a whole 

 family that spent a night of agony 

 after doing so a word to the 

 wise! As chub run to a large 

 size, 6 Ib. or 7 lb., and are 

 common enough at 4 lb., they 

 offer a diversion, if not a comes- 

 tible, to the fly-fisher. They are 

 found in the deep pools of many 

 of our rivers, and in July, when 

 the trout at mid-day are obdu- 

 rate and seek the cool shadows 

 under weeds and high banks, they 

 will take the fly freely. I know 

 such a river, and instead of follow- 

 ing the example of Salmo fario and 

 seeking the cool shade, let us in 

 imagination visit a certain pool 

 and brave the tropical weather for 

 an hour. It is below a weir, over 

 which the water leaps with a roar. 

 It trembles in a basin at the foot, 

 overflows and courses down a 

 pebbly shallow, and is hushed to 

 silence in a deep pool. In this the 

 chub are to be found. 



An 1 1 -ft. trout rod is suitable 

 for the work, but the reel with a 

 soft dry fly line is taken off, and a 

 plaited silk one substituted. The 

 heavier make is needed for getting 

 out the fly and sinking it, as the 

 lighter silk make is required to 

 keep it afloat. A stouter casting 

 line is also mounted, to which a 

 large-eyed fly is attached. 



There is a variety of chub flies 

 to choose from, palmers, alders, 

 coachmen ; but knowing the taste 

 of the occupants of the pool, an 

 Alexandra is selected. For trout 

 this pattern is not generally per- 

 missible. An exception is made 

 in the case of chub ; the addition 

 of a gentle or two on the point 



of the hook is deemed lawful, a 

 practice unpardonable in the case 

 of trout, but L. cephalm is a low- 

 bred species, and high morals do 

 not apply to him. It is well to 

 stretch the casting line and drown 

 the fly in the swift current before 

 approaching him, then fish it 

 down carefully. At the neck of 

 the pool a cast is made, and the fly 

 begins to work round and down 

 stream. The top of the rod is 

 lowered, and the fly, well satu- 

 rated, sinks below the surface. 

 When the full strength of the 

 current strikes the line it rises 

 again, and is gradually worked 

 up in preparation for a cast lower 

 down. 



This time it alights on quiet 

 water, immediately sinks, and the 

 usual movement of the rod to 

 give life to the fly is commenced. 

 This is effected by a slight motion 

 of the hand up and down from the 

 wrist, the top of the rod rises and 

 falls, and the fly swims in short, 

 sharp jerks. As the rod goes 

 back over the shoulder the fly 

 travels up stream. The line is 

 taut, and the smallest touch can 

 be felt. The strength of the cur- 

 rent carries the line towards the 

 bank. The pool is deep there, 

 and very soon there is the sense 

 of an unmistakable pull. That 

 is the moment to strike by an 

 upward movement of the wrist ; 

 resistance and convulsions follow. 



The moment the chub is hooked 

 the finger should be removed from 

 the line, bringing the reel into 

 play. The captive will probably 

 give two or three savage pulls 

 and rush out into mid-stream. If 

 the reel is not free to relieve the 

 strain, something will give way. 

 The first moment or two are 

 critical ; if he does not break 

 away then unless he is a big 

 fellow he will be landed, in all 

 probability, if firmly hooked and 

 cautiously handled. Even heavy 



