STRIKING GRAYLING. 249 



together constitute proficiency. First, the art of 

 throwing should be thoroughly understood and 

 acquired. This rule is imperative, as the least 

 awkward movement will " knock the fish off the 

 feed." It should ever be remembered that the eye 

 of the grayling is even quicker and keener than 

 that of the trout, though his cupidity is greater. 



Next in importance ranks " striking." This requires 

 a quick hand and eye ; and if either one or the other 

 be in any way defective, the angler should not strike 

 at all, but should let the fish hook himself. Striking 

 forms one of the most fertile sources of loss and 

 disaster that exists in the modern method of fly- 

 fishing. This is particularly exemplified in the case 

 of grayling, they being, as an old writer quaintly 

 expresses it, "excessively tender about the chaps," 

 and a very slight motion of the wrist is ample to 

 drive home the small hook. It is here that quickness 

 of sight and tenderness of touch are called into play, 

 in the absence of which requisites the delicate tackle, 

 or the hold of the hook, and sometimes even a portion 

 of the jaw of the hooked fish, will be broken away 

 by an impetuous rodster. Great care is therefore 

 essential in this matter. 



Whenever the grayling are not rising, unlike the 

 trout, they congregate in considerable numbers at the 

 bottom of deep holes ; but when there is a good num- 

 ber of flies upon the water, they quickly leave the 

 deeps, and will be found in the slow running streams, 

 more especially where the water averages a depth of 

 three to four feet. Here they rise freely, so long as 



