70 



THE RUDD 



a good fly ; so is an Alder ; while for casting in the evening 

 nothing beats a Coachman with the white wings. The fly 

 that I have found most effective during the daytime is a 

 No. 8 hook Zulu. This is a black hackle fly, ribbed with 

 gold twist, and a scarlet tag ; but whichever fly you do use, 

 always tip the point of the hook with a couple of gentles, or 

 failing those a little bit of white kid. You, don't get such 

 large rudd with the fly as you do' with the w^orm. I have, 

 however, seen them landed over i ^ lb. in weight, and some- 

 times as many as a score have been taken in an hour, running 

 from that size down to half a pound ; but always remember 

 that it is the best for fly fishing when a nice breeze ripples 

 and disturbs the water ; and also remember tO' throw the fly 

 where the weeds and undergrowth are the thickest. The fly 

 rod, reel, and line recommended and described in the chapter 

 on chub, page 114, vol. i, is also right for rudd, and the angler 

 can please himself whether he uses this rod as a double-handed 

 or as a single-handed one ; but, of course, he will have to be 

 guided by circumstances as tO' this. The above remarks on 

 surface fishing for rudd, apply with equal force to the roach 

 also, except that in weedy rivers and lakes, where the water 

 is quiet, roach prefer very small flies, a tiny Red Palmer 

 tipped with a gentle being as good as anything. 



In closing this chapter I must apologise for its length, 

 but seeing that it is a little-known fish, and also that it is, as 

 I firmly believe, on the increase in English waters. I must 

 let the importance of the subject be my excuse. I have said 

 nothing but what the angler ought to know, as personal ex- 

 perience in this matter has taught me that there are scores 

 of fishermen living close tO' the haunts of splendid rudd that 

 were ignorant of their nature and habits, and even of their 

 presence in those waters. 



