86 COARSE FISH. 



fully ; and should an eddy, produce a curve in the 

 line, you must lift the line to right or left as the 

 case may require. Should you not get a bite after 

 a swim or two, do not waste any further time in 

 that place, but try another. If your bait is one 

 that will strike off, strike it off at the end of each 

 swim, it helps to bait up a little, and does not alarm 

 fish by being dragged back over their heads ; and, 

 in winding in, keep your float as far away as pos- 

 sible from where you intend to make your next run 

 down, unless you decide to shift. The manipula- 

 tion of the reel is not learnt at once ; it takes some 

 time to learn how to keep a pretty line on the 

 water. The winch must be checked or accelerated 

 by the left hand as required. In winding in, grip 

 the line gently between the first and second fingers 

 of the hand that is not turning the winch, as this 

 takes moisture off the line and also tightens 

 the line on the winch as it comes in. I find 

 winding with the left hand simply invaluable in 

 chubbing (see note, p. 228). Should you get a 

 bite, it will be a vigorous one ; as the chub is a 

 glutton devoid of manners. I find I hook more 

 chub by allowing just an instant's law ; then I 

 strike firmly, with a long, steady sweep of the rod, 

 right back. The line tightens instantly, and in 

 shallow water there is a mighty boil perhaps forty 

 or more yards away. Your fish will fight for the 

 willows, and you must pull him out of these. Turn 

 your rod out, and drag him away ; if he comes to 

 the surface, dip your rod deep down in the water 

 and haul him down again ; if he gets up among the 

 branches, good-bye to both chub and tackle. In 

 shallow swims, with light tackle, a cube of bread 

 and crust, about half an inch square, attached to 



