CHUB. 55 



In summer they may often be seen near the surface of the 

 water, among the weeds and lily leaves, when they may be 

 taken by dropping the bait into any little opening you may 

 observe among the weeds. Fish with a stouter line and with- 

 out a float ; with a shot or two about a foot from the hook to 

 sink the bait sufficiently. When you feel or see a bite, strike 

 sharply and land your prize as soon as possible, for in places 

 of this description there will not be much space for playing. 



CHAPTER IX. 



CHUB. 



ALTHOUGH the Chub is not much prized for the table, 

 still it is an handsome looking fish when in full season 

 and fresh caught. Being a bold biting fish, struggling 



gamely, it affords the angler much amusement ; taking 



the bait from July till March \ either at the top of the water 

 with large flies, insects, moths and palmers, or at the bottom 

 with greaves, bullock's brains, or the pith from the backbone. 

 I have also taken very large Chub with the head of a lob- 

 worm ; or a slug cut down the belly so as to show the white 

 inside ; using them like a fly, early in the morning ; the 

 splash the bait made on entering the water appearing pecu- 

 liarly attractive. Chub spawn about May, and do not thrive 

 well in stagnant ponds, though they do in ponds fed by a 

 running stream, provided there are weeds that give a harbour 

 for the breed of insects. They delight in still holes beneath 

 overhanging bushes or roots, the sides of tumbling bays, <kc., 

 in rivers, retiring during the winter to deeper holes, preferring 

 at all times a gravelly bottom. When small they are ex- 



