40 THE FLIES FOR CHUB. 



different, and which may be worth notice. A very unpre- 

 tending bush or two, also, if the stream below be right, 

 may serve to hide two or three 3 or 4-pounders. I know 

 no kind of fishing which requires a better knowledge of 

 the ground. It is so easy to pass good casts, and to fish 

 likely looking ones which are not worth a rap. Hot, 

 bright, and still weather is very favourable ; a cloudy day 

 is also good, if there be little wind ; but rough, boister- 

 ous, or cold weather is bad for it. 



A good big fly, that flops into the water with a splash, 

 so as to attract the notice of the chub, is desirable. An 

 artificial cockchafer, or a beetle, or fat bumblebee, 1 

 are good, or a big palmer may be used for a change. 

 The black with silver tinsel is best ; but the best fly for 

 general work is a fly of grilse size, made with a body of 

 silver tinsel, a furnace hackle (dark red with black centre) 

 wrapped over it ; a few turns of black heron over that at 

 the shoulder ; an undenting of a few sprigs of emerald 

 peacock herl, and an overwing of dark turkey. The tail 

 should be made of a tag of white kid glove or wash- 

 leather, which is very attractive. With this fly, using a 

 grilse rod and stout cast of salmon gut, I have killed as 

 much as a cwt. of large chub, running up to three and four 

 pounds' weight, in a day on the Thames. The stout 

 tackle is needed to provide against rushes, flags, and 

 boughs, into which one constantly gets hung, when a 

 sharp haul upon the tackle is necessary, to avoid spoiling 

 the cast by bringing the boat into the boughs, as would be 

 requisite with lighter tackle. Also is stout tackle required 

 to haul a four-pound fish out from his shelter among the 

 roots ; and if chub are on the feed, fine tackle is not needed 

 for this work. Indeed, fine tackle would result in endless 

 worry and breakage. One thing, however, is very important 

 in this fishing, viz., perfect quiet : not only should your 



1 See Plate IX. fig. 4. 



