88 COARSE FISH. 



with a lump of pith is run down in, or just after, 

 the milky stream ; the chub thinks that he has a 

 fine morsel at last, and the temptation is too great 

 to be resisted ; the float disappears with even more 

 vigour than usual, and the strike is responded to 

 with the pull of, mayhap, a four-pounder, and you 

 fish swim after swim with favourable results, the 

 chub apparently fighting to be first at the bait. 

 Spinning for chub on the shallows in the early 

 Spin- season is productive of excellent sport, 

 nin S though this style of fishing for them is 

 unusual. A minnow or small bleak for bait, a 

 light rod with trace and lead to match, fine line, 

 and an easy running winch complete the outfit, 

 though a landing-net should always be included. 

 A most deadly artificial bait for chub is the 

 Wagtail " (p. 235). 



When spinning in fast water, chub, as usual, take 

 the lure greedily. 



Fly-fishing for chub is fine sport in quiet, undis- 

 Fiy- turbed water, but is little good if there are 

 fishing man y boats or launches about A power- 

 ful rod and strong tackle should be employed, 

 for your fly is thrown into very awkward places, 

 and the most skilful angler will sometimes get 

 " hung up ; " a smart snatch will occasionally 

 tear a little impediment away without much dis- 

 turbance. On the Thames nowadays, at least on 

 the lower Thames, the only really quiet time for 

 fly-fishing is the early morning ; let your attendant 

 row or paddle you down as quietly as possible, and 

 fish all the spots you know hold chub. Drop your 

 fly into every likely place ; never mind throwing it 

 hard ; it is no dry-fly business, and chub take a sunk 

 fly greedily. Almost any fly that is tied will kill 



