BAIT-FISHING FOR GRAYLING. 99 



tlie Nortli, after the middle of November, wlien fly-fisliing 



becomes useless. Grayling take almost any grub or larva, 



but the two baits most used are gentles and worms. On 



Herefordshire and Worcestershire grayling- streams an odd 



method of fishing is practised with what is termed 



the "grasshopper"* (Fig. 64). On to the point 



of the hook stick half a dozen gentles. A stout 



cast is generally used. A tiny quill float, not 



sufficient to buoy up the leaded bait, is fixed to 



the line, to show the angler about how deep 



the bait — which should reach the bottom — is in 



the water. The " grasshopper " is cast in likely 



spots, and worked with a sink-and-draw motion 



near the bottom. In lieu of gentles, a real grass- Fig. 64. The 

 ^ J 11 V T. 1 Grasshopper. 



hopper, redworm, or cabbage grub, may be used. 



" Swimming the Worm " is a method greatly practised in 



the North after the fly-fishing is over. It is most successful 



in cold weather, particularly after frosty nights, when the 



water is low and clear; but the presence of snow-broth in 



the stream is usually fatal to success. The tackle consists 



of a very fine 3-yd. cast, terminated by a small round-bend 



hook, the shank of which should be painted red, and which, 



if not " sliced," should have a bristle lashed on to it, to keep the 



worm from slipping down. A swan-shot is fixed to the line, 



about 1ft. from the hook. The gut passes through a tiny 



cork float, not much larger than a cob-nut, which is kept 



in its place by a peg. The peg should project about l^in. 



above the float, and be painted red. Small, well-scoured 



redworms are the best baits, but brandlings will do. A rather 



stiff fly-rod and dressed line are commonly used, but I should 



give the preference to a Nottingham rod, reel, and line. All 



being prepared, fix your float so that, as nearly as you can 



guess, the bait will be 6in. from the bottom, and cast the 



tackle into likely grayling-haunts, letting it swim down with 



the stream. Sometimes you may walk along the bank and 



* It is made thus : Wrap lead round shank of hook, and over lead wind green 

 Berlin wool, with a few turns ot black wool at head. Lay a straw along each side, 

 and rib with yellow wool or thick silk. 



DIV. III. I 



