CHUB-FISHING 137 



deeper water ; but, if the weather be warm, large ones may 

 be taken by casting from a boat under the boughs of trees on 

 the river bank. A large red palmer, or a grilse fly, will be 

 found as attractive as anything else. The fish at that season 

 are in the highest condition of which they are capable ; firm 

 and bright as a salmon-trout, and fighting most creditabl)^ 

 for freedom. 



Of the other methods of taking chub, the chief are the 

 tight float and the travelling float, as has been described 

 under the heads of barbel and roach. Orthodox chub-fishing 

 is of the same nature as roach-fishing, only more so — that 

 is, you may use rather stronger tackle, and travel your float 

 further off^ in " long-corking." To do this successfully re- 

 quires a light, strong silken line, well greased, to make it 

 float flexibly, with a mixture of Aspinall's green enamel and 

 vaseline. As for baits, there is positively no limit to the 

 variety of successful ones ; not even that of edibility, for 

 iVIr. Wheeley records the capture of a mighty chub with a 

 gummy chestnut bud, and for winter fishing he recommends 

 *' pith and brains " — that is, a judicious ground-baiting with 

 bullock's brains, following by the presentation as bait of a 

 piece of the " pith," or spinal cord of the animal. Lob- 

 worms, shrimps, bread, cheese, mutton-fat, minnows, and 

 macaroni — all these are greedily taken when the fish are on 

 the feed. In the Thames, where picnic parties do greatly 

 abound, chub have acquired a passion for cherries, and 

 Mr. Wheeley declares that a large white-heart or Bigaroon 

 generally proves irresistible. He mentions an incident 

 curiously illustrating the peculiar habits of this fish. A 

 large damson-tree overhung the river near Pangbourne. 

 One windy day, when the fruit was ripe, an angler happened 

 that way, and noticed a fine company of chub greedily 

 gulping the damsons blown off^ the tree into the water. 

 He took the hint, and, using damsons as bait, made a very 

 large catch. 



