RUDD 385 



batches, for they spawn again in the middle of June. Whether 

 these be old or young batches is doubtful. 



Soon after spawning they go on the feed, still keeping most 

 of the time to shallow water, though occasionally wandering 

 far afield, whither the flies seem to follow them. On a warm 

 day, after a shower of rain, you will find thousands of rudd 

 against the shores of the broad, feeding on " muzzle-weed " 

 and flies. 



Though a suspicious fish, often taking food and ejecting 

 it again, they will rise to a fly ; indeed, that is the only way 

 to catch the large ones, except, of course, by netting. If you 

 want to go fly-fishing for rudd in July and August, choose 

 a time when a gentle breeze is rippling the water, and then 

 you may see them rise all over a shallow broad. The osprey 

 knows that too, and rudd is his favourite fish; for as the 

 rudd keeps near the surface for the flies, the osprey has no 

 difficulty in catching him. 



Anglers attack the rudd with gentles, worms, and paste, 

 but paste is one of the best baits ; indeed, he is a better 

 "paste-fish" than a roach. He bites best after a rain- 

 shower on a hot summer's evening. But he seldom scales 

 more than two pounds, and is, as I have said, useless for 

 food. 



2 R 



