THE JOLLY ANGLER. 83 



Chub. I remember once, fishing in the Wey, when 

 throwing my fly over the river to where some willows 

 grew, I saw a motion in the water (similar to that caused 

 by a fish when he comes at a fly), and struck, but 

 felt nothing. I then threw again, with like success, two 

 or three times (for at that time I had only practised for 

 Trout) ; at last I held my hand still for a moment, when 

 I saw them coming; they then took my fly, and I caught 

 a basket full of them. I have also succeeded by drawing 

 my fly quick through the water, and suddenly stopping, 

 when the fear of losing it has tempted them to take it 

 eagerly. 



When you hook a fish with the fly-rod, get him clear 

 of any weeds or other obstructions, and keep a tight line ; 

 the play of the rod will be quite sufficient to kill him. 

 When he appears exhausted, draw him to the shore, and 

 use your landing net. Never lift him out with your rod, 

 as raising one pound that way will strain it more than 

 killing a fish of seven. The most likely places to succeed 

 with a fly, are mill-tails, weirs, scours, where two rivers 

 join, or at the edge of a bed of weeds where the water 

 runs fast. I here allude to Salmon, Trout, Grayling, or 

 Dace ; but Chub delight in deep still holes under trees, 

 where they catch the caterpillars, moths, cockchaffers, 

 &c. that fall therefrom. 



I must here repeat the caution of keeping out of sight. 

 I have taken many fish by standing back, and throwing 

 on my own side of the river, then downwards or upwards, 

 under the banks, and at last out in the stream, or across. 

 When you are fishing for Dace you may use two or even 

 three flies at once, about a yard apart. Sometimes they 

 put a gentle on the hook with the flies. This is a good 

 plan to follow, if fishing for Skeggers. (See " The 

 Thames ; as also, for Grayling, see " The Grayling.") 

 When you use more than one fly, the farthest is called the 

 stretcher ; the others are called drop-flies ; but it is in 

 most cases advisable to use but one. 



I will give you a list of the articles necessary for, as 

 well as directions how to make an artificial fly (though 

 lam fully aware the theory of the thing is useless). Those 

 who can make a fly will understand me ; those who can- 

 not, I fear, will profit little by what I can here advance. 



