GRAYLING FISHING. 101 



to keep up the head of the worm, fasten a single swan shot 

 about twelve inches above the hook, and your tackle is com- 

 plete; the best worms to employ are the small red ones 

 always to be found in old rotten manure, and they should 

 be kept ready for use in damp, clean moss ; insert the point 

 of the hook a little below the head of the worm, and thread 

 it on, up to the projecting bristle, which will keep it in its 

 place ; leave the tail of the worm hanging loose ; the bait 

 must be swum about six inches from the bottom of the river 

 by means of a very light cork or quill float, the angler wad- 

 ing carefully up stream, and trying every eddy or likely 

 haunt for grayling within his reach ; as soon as ever the 

 float gives the slightest indication of a bite the angler must 

 strike at once, gently but firmly, playing the fish out in the 

 water which he has previously fished through. The arti- 

 ficial bait known as the " grasshopper," and which is such 

 a deadly lure on the tributaries of the Severn, does not 

 seem to " take " on the Yorkshire streams. I have tried 

 it on several occasions, but with no results. I must not 

 forget to advise my readers to give a gentle strike at the 

 end of each swim when fishing the worm for grayling, as 

 very frequently the fish will take it very quietly just as the 

 bait rises from the bottom, and then the above-named pre- 

 caution generally results in the capture of the fish. 



To myself, and no doubt to many other brothers of the 

 angle, autumnal grayling fishing has a peculiar charm ; the 

 calm declining days of September and October, when the 

 sun sheds his warm rays over the golden stubble fields and 

 the gorgeous ruddy tints of the fast changing foliage ; the 

 soft murmur of the stream, with ever and anon the silvery 

 gleam of the shadowy grayling as he rises at a passing fly ; 

 the slender rod, the gossamer tackle, with the smallest of 

 artificials attached, all tend to make up a most enchanting 

 picture of the gentle art, especially to the eye of a born 

 angler; just in the same manner as the sportsman of another 



