COARSE FISH AND THE FLY. 175 



not already caught him with the worm ? But he 

 does not, perhaps, know all his habits yet, or how 

 in the dog-days he is to be found basking on the 

 top of the still, deep river pools, among the lily 

 leaves, beneath the willow boughs, or between the 

 streamers of cool green weed. This is a very 

 lovable habit of the chub, and it makes him game 

 worthy of any sportsman's pursuit. He is easily 

 seen, but hardly approached, and what more can 

 one desire? 



Chub are, to my thinking, much more difficult to 

 stalk than trout, and there is a real feeling of 

 triumph about having been able to place a fly to a 

 visible monster, despite the many obstacles which 

 had to be overcome, such as trees, rushes, long 

 grass, and, worst of all, the fish's abnormal power 

 of detecting danger and stealthily disappearing. 

 Then there is a supreme excitement in watching 

 the fish whip round as the fly falls, swim resolutely 

 up to it, open his capacious mouth, and suck it in. 

 Also it takes nerve to hold one's hand until the 

 last process is complete and then to tighten slowly 

 and gently. If nerve fails and one tightens too 

 soon, there is an indignant plunge of impressive 

 violence, and the chub is gone, put down probably 

 for the morning ; if one strikes too hard the fly is 

 gone with him. But if all is well-managed there 



