Fly Fishing for Grayling, 183 



before said, four things are required on your part — 

 very fine tackle, and small flies, a light hand to 

 throw with, careful management when the fish 

 is hooked — he has a most tender mouth — and 

 patience. On the fish's part one only is requisite 

 — that he should rise at and take your fly. 



The trout in the Teme are very poor eating, 

 although they run large. Once, in August, after 

 a flood, I took some big fish — one 4 lbs., and a 

 good many from 2 lbs. to 2| lbs. — chiefly with the 

 Ant fly, and when the river was too full and too 

 dirty for grayling. I had that year a curious 

 encounter with a fish. There had been a flood, 

 and the water was gradually settling and clearing, 

 but not clear enough for grayling fishing. I had 

 gone out to try for trout, which, when feeding, lie 

 close to the surface. I had put on a large August 

 Brown, and had taken one or two, when, in the 

 deep river, just below General Drummond's Pool, 

 there was a tremendous swirl. My line tightened, 

 and I found I had got hold of something very big. 

 Away, with such a whirl of the reel, went my line, 

 and after a few yards had run out I began running 

 too, and pretty rapidly ; but it was of no use. The 

 fish, whatever it was, took the whole of my line — 

 between thirty and forty yards — off the reel, and then 

 broke me. I had passed in hot haste a friend or two, 

 who gave place when they saw what was up, and 



