316 PIKE AND OTHER COARSE FISH. 



Legs of black hackle, as long as the body of the fly. In regard 

 to this, as also to palmers and Marlow buzzes, the size of the 

 hook on which they should be dressed must depend on a great 

 variety of local considerations, not the least being the size of 

 the chub which it is expected to encounter. As a rule, a larger 

 fly may be used after dusk, and the brighter the day the smaller 

 should be the fly employed. 



The natural grasshopper may also be used like a fly and 

 especially with a few gentles on the point ot the hook is a very 

 deadly bait for chub. Both with this and with the artificial fly 

 plenty of time should be allowed the fish to get the hook well 

 into his mouth before striking, as he is much more deliberate in 

 his movements than any other fish usually taken with the fly. 

 Not more than one fly at a time should ever be used. 



The brightest days with the most sun and least wind are 

 generally the most favourable for fly-fishing for chub, which are 

 then basking on the shallows or near the surface of the water in 

 a position from which the fly can be readily perceived. 



The artificial caterpillar, with two or three gentles, or more, 

 according to size, on the hook-point, and leaded so as to sink 

 slowly, is a very deadly bait, especially in deep waters, as is 

 also, towards dusk, a natural caterpillar, cockchafer, or grass- 

 hopper, used by dipping or ' dapping ' over the bushes. The arti- 

 ficial sinking bait has this immense advantage, however, that it 

 may be thrown as a fly and does not require constantly renewing. 



Mr. Henry Cox, of Guildford, who has given special atten- 

 tion to chub fishing, informs me that the best bait, according to 

 his experience, is an artificial black slug, natural size, leaded and 

 used as above described for the artificial caterpillar. This was 

 the bait also which was used by a friend of Mr. Cox's, who made 

 the biggest baskets of chub ever seen on the Thames, and 

 caught the biggest fish. 



For bottom- fishing and ground-baiting for chub, the best 

 baits, as well as ground baits, are those recommended for bream 

 and barbel fishing. Minnows are also not unfrequently a kill- 

 ing bait in the earlier part of summer when the chub is to be 



