86 AN ANGLER'S HOURS v 



just below the junction of a branch of the 

 Avon with the Severn. It could not tech- 

 nically be described as a shallow, as it is 

 from three to five feet deep, but it is con- 

 siderably shallower than the rest of the 

 river in that neighbourhood. In this piece 

 of water there always used to be, and no 

 doubt still are, great numbers of chub which 

 were generally on the rise. It could be 

 fished either from the bank or from a boat, 

 and it was possible to use very light tackle, 

 as there were neither trees nor weeds, and 

 playing a fish was perfectly straightforward. 

 The chub did not run very large, but, 

 averaging from three-quarters of a pound to 

 two pounds and a half, they gave mag- 

 nificent sport on finest drawn gut and a 

 five-ounce rod. This would apply to any 

 similar piece of water, but unfortunately 

 such spots are rare except on the Severn. 

 Most rivers abound in natural obstacles, 

 and it is necessary to use strong tackle for 

 that reason. 



For general use against the chub I 

 should recommend the dry-fly fisher's outfit, 

 a powerful split-cane rod of from ten to 

 eleven feet with a heavy tapered reel-line 



