v FLY-FISHER'S AFTERMATH 87 



forty yards in length. With this combina- 

 tion it is possible to cast a long line with 

 wonderful accuracy, and also to hold a 

 heavy fish which is trying to make for 

 weeds or roots. The gut-cast should also 

 be tapered, but not too much, as the fly 

 which is to be attached to it is heavy and 

 liable to whip off. Chub do not seem to 

 mind how thick the tackle is if the gut and 

 fly are all that they see. With regard to 

 flies, different rivers have their own patterns, 

 but I know of one fly which will kill on 

 any river, and that is Charles Kingsley's 

 favourite, the alder. It should be dressed 

 lake-trout size and should have a kid tail. 

 It may be classed as another of my prejudices 

 if I say that a man really needs to use no 

 other pattern ; but of course there are other 

 excellent flies. Big black, red, and soldier 

 palmers, bluebottle, Zulu, Francis, Coach- 

 man, all kill, and kill well. It is also worth 

 noting that on a very rough and stormy day 

 chub will sometimes take a large white 

 moth when they will not look at anything 

 else, and this is also the case in the rough 

 water below a weir. All chub -flies are 

 improved by the addition of a kid tail. 



