CHUB FISHING. 185 



as it will not necessarily dash headlong down stream, but more 

 probably make to one side or the other. 



A very essential adjunct is the ground baiting. I call it ground 

 baiting for convenience, but strictly it does not comply with all the 

 conditions necessary to qualify for the title, since it is not 

 intended to reach the ground. Just previous to the bait being 

 allowed to swim down the " run," a piece of cheese is taken 

 in the hand and pared off into the water. Cheese parings are by 

 far the best form in which to bait with this article, as they sink 

 very slowly and make a good show in the water. What the angler 

 hopes is that the Chub will be attracted by the shavings, and 

 feed greedily upon them, and when the angler's fat lump upon the 

 hook is seen to approach, a rush of many fish will be made for it, 

 the successful one being the largest of the shoal. Three or four 

 lots of cheese shavings, and the same number of swims, may 

 be considered to sufficiently test any run ; there is no advantage 

 in remaining an hour or two at the same spot, as is the case with 

 roach. There is not much more to be said, beyond the advice to 

 fish as fine as ycu dare, and to place the shot necessary to 

 cock the fioat, and keep the bait down at least eighteen inches 

 from the last named. With a light and pliant rod, such as 

 is manufactured for the purpose, finer fishing can be indulged 

 in than with a heavier rod, heavy rods being, as a general thing, a 

 mistake. The rod I use for Nottingham fishing I have, on 

 occasion, used as a fi}' rod to cast a worm for rudd. I mention 

 this to give a notion of its pliancy. The great thing is to have 

 the pliancy distributed throughout the whole length of a rod, and 

 not merely through the smaller joints. Such a rod plays a 

 fish of itself. 



B b 



