PRACTICAL FLY-FISHER. #5 



current of the pool, or at the tail of the pool where it 

 begins to run shallow. In fishing up stream, and with 

 very fine tackle, either finely shaved gut or single hair 

 should be employed. The tail of the pool, especially if 

 rippled by wind, is my favourite resort for Grayling. 



The Grayling seems to rise at the fly with great 

 rapidity, but yet takes the fly much more quietly and 

 silently than the Trout, scarcely breaking the surface of 

 the water. He feeds more especially on Small Duns and 

 Gnats, but I have caught many Grayling with the larger 

 flies ; viz., the Green Drake, the March Brown, and 

 other larger insects. 



The Duns are favourite flies with me all the year, 

 commencing with the Blue Dun in March and April. 

 The Yellow Dun, Iron Blue Dun, on cold windy days. 

 July Dun, Dun Cut, Blue Gnat, and Willow Fly. 

 These will be found among the most killing flies, if 

 varied according to season and weather. 



The Spider fly and Alder fly are good Grayling 

 flies, and kill well in the Eye. 



The Grayling spawns at the end of April, and 

 beginning of May ; the period varying a little from the 

 temperature of the stream, and does not like the Trout 

 ascend the river to do so, but deposits the ova in the 

 stream it usually inhabits. The young fry may be 

 caught with the fly, (at which they rise freely) in the 

 September and October following ; being about six or 

 eight inches in length. In twelve months they will 

 become fish of half a pound weight. 



The Grayling in these Northern rivers rarely gets 

 to weigh more than two pounds ; although I have taken 

 a fish in the Rye weighing two and a half pounds : the 



