62 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 



Dove below Rocester. The scales of some of these were 

 the size of a shilling. Chub are to be steadily headed from 

 the hole when hooked, in order to avoid disturbing the re- 

 mainder of the school. Ledgering is also a favorite 

 style of angling for them in some waters, the gut and 

 tackle being generally stouter than for other fish, as 

 when a large fish is hooked it is a case of " pull devil, 

 pull baker." A slender weak rod should especially be 

 eschewed, as to keep the fish from the roots in the neigh- 

 borhood of their haunts, the best built and most evenly 

 proportioned rod procurable is unequal to the occasion ; 

 a certain amount of pliant play is necessary to aid the 

 tackle. The best wood to employ for a bottom rod for 

 chub is Eamshorn Ash (English) for butt, hickory for 

 middle joint, and a spliced treble cane top. We have 

 had a rod of this description in use for the last forty 

 years, and it is still as sound and useful as ever. Upon 

 all bottom rods the rings should be upright, and the reel 

 fittings, as in the case of the fly-rod, should be fixed to 

 the bottom of the butt joint, so as to balance as much 

 as possible. To place it a foot or so from the extremity 

 of the joint is foolish, it being just in the way of the 

 rodster's hand when using, and also highly inconvenient 

 generally. In the early autumn months chub are to be 

 taken by dibbing* (surface fishing) daping (midwater) 

 with live insects, such as the larger of the flies and bee- 

 tles, humble bees, grasshoppers, etc. Instructions as to 



* " Dibbing " or " daping " may be briefly described as follows : Hav- 

 ing selected the special pool or hole where the chub are known to be, 

 the angler cautiously approaches the spot, keeping out of sight, and, if 

 necessary, crawling upon his hands and knees. Upon reaching the de- 

 sired point, he remains quiet for a moment or two to allow the fish to 

 recover their equanimity, if it has been disturbed. Then gently extend- 

 ing the rod over the water, he allows the baited hook to fall from his 

 hand, so that it will hang five to eight inches above the water. Moving 

 it quietly over the spot where he thinks the fish are most plentiful, the 

 bait is dropped quickly on the surface of the water. 



