ON THE FORDS OF TEME 105 



10 a.m. is a good time for beginning, later 



1 1 o'clock, or even midday, will be soon enough. 

 One can go on fishing as long as there is any 

 encouragement to do so, maybe until dusk in 

 mild weather. If the season is not too advanced 

 and if the water is right, grayling are almost sure 

 to rise cheerfully at some time of the day. If 

 they are not rising, and you wish to fish, then 

 put on the wet fly (three flies if the river suits) ; 

 if on the other hand they are rising, then fish 

 dry. Why, the grayling then are calling to you ! 

 Sometimes a particular fly must be used, if any 

 business is to be done. Sometimes practically 

 any grayling fly, especially when tipped with a 

 dash of colour, will attract them. But you never 

 know. The grayling is a challenge to study. 

 You think you understand this game fish, and 

 then you realize that you are contemplating a 

 mystery. That is, perhaps, why the grayling is 

 called the Lady of the Stream. 



That morning the Stroud angler had started 

 at the far end of the association reach, in the 

 Newnham Bridge direction. I had gone a little 

 higher up, to within sight of Boraston Church, 

 with its quaint spire. I had done nothing. When 

 I had worked my way down 1 saw him, bewadered 

 and in the water, supremely happy. Grayling 

 were rising all around him. He had struck a 

 gravelly ford such as the fish love. Already he 

 had a nice bag, and he deserved it, for he cast his 

 short line very prettily. The grayling sometimes 

 missed or refused the fly, but they kept coming. 



