62 THE RUDD. 



During the early part of the summer, immediately after 

 they have concluded spawning operations, the rudd are for 

 the most part vegetarians ; they feed upon the weeds and 

 the insects, caddis worms, and minute crustaceans upon 

 those weeds. In fact, I may say that their principal food 

 during the summer months are weeds and insects,, for I have 

 opened and examined them at various times from^ June to 

 October, and found the contents of the stomach confirm 

 this opinion. At the same time, they are on the lookout 

 for any little dainty that may fall or be blown into the stream 

 by the wind, such as flies, caterpillars, small beetles, grubs 

 or worms ; while the water-flies, as they are hatched out of 

 the caddis - grubs, are eagerly snapped up. These fish 

 are a summer fish, pure and simple ; they delight in hot 

 weather. During the middle of the day when other fish 

 are lying quiet, and refuse to be tempted owing to the heat,, 

 then do the rudd show good sport, especially if a warm 

 breeze disturbs and ripples the surface of the w^ater. July, 

 August and September are the best months ; August the 

 very best of all. If the weather is very mild during the 

 early part of October, you will stand a chance of getting a 

 few; but it must be warm and mild, for as soon as cold 

 weather sets in, the rudd disappear from their usual haunts 

 and you see them no more till another summer ; where they 

 go to, and how they hide themselves during the winter, are 

 questions that I cannot positively answer, but it is certain 

 that they are hardly ever caught during very cold weather. 

 I have watched carefully when roach fishing during the win- 

 ter, and no matter how freely those fish have been feeding, 

 not a single rudd have I landed, and other anglers have as- 

 sured me that their experiences have been similar in this 

 respect. With regard to hook-baits, I may say that the 

 rudd will take many baits if they are only properly pre- 

 sented to them, but for all angling purposes my list will 

 only be a very short one, worms, cadbaits, paste and two or 

 three artificial flies being ample. Gentles are a deadly bait, 

 but in a stream like the Ouse they have their objections. 

 Bleak will persist in taking them, and the angler is so often 

 disappointed — time after time pulling up those small and 

 greedy marauders when he expects a lot bigger quarry ; and 



