THE CHUB. 89 



chub, anything gaudy or striking in colour will 

 attract them. I have little preference for any par- 

 ticular fly ; perhaps I have killed most with a Black 

 Palmer, silver twist on the body and a big white 

 leather tag, the fly itself not to be tied too large. 

 Try alongside old barges, sunken boats, and near 

 shelters of similar description ; chub are picked 

 out of curious places with the fly. As a variety 

 in fly-fishing, I may state that I have had piy- 

 good sport with a light salmon-rod and a spoon 

 little fly-spoon, the spoon either golden or silvery, 

 golden for choice. These spoons are little larger 

 than a sixpence, and spin madly ; they are armed 

 with a single hook, and it is advisable to see that 

 this hook, which should be of good size, is not 

 protected by the spoon. Perch take these spoons 

 well. Yet another variety of fly-fishing for « Frog- 

 chub is "frogging." Bait with very small g'"g" 

 frogs, put a shot above the hook or triangle ; after 

 hooking on the frog, tie his legs up the gut above 

 the shot with silk or fine cotton. Kill your frog 

 with a smart fillip of the finger before baiting. A 

 small frog is a bait that a chub can hardly resist. 

 Cast gently, and let the frog sink ; then work him 

 up and down in little jerks, not too quickly, and 

 strike on feeling a tug. A piece of bacon fat, or a 

 bunch of gentles, on a triangle, flopped in under 

 the bushes, make useful baits. Let your fly-rod 

 have plenty of strength, especially in the top, or 

 the heavy work will soon strain it. 



Bank-fishing for chub is much more difficult than 

 punt-fishing, and is very little practised on Bank- 

 the Thames. I have seen some very good fishing 

 fish taken from the towing-path side of the river 

 during the winter season by walking down stream 



