THE GRAYLING, AND BAIT-FISHING FOR. 407 



Just a nip of ' Scotch' to commemorate the first fish, and then 

 proceed cautiously down stream, trying every likely place within 

 reach. Towards the end of the stream we approach a belt of 

 willow trees which fringe the water's edge. Under the shade of 

 their pink roots many a lusty member of the Salmo Thymallus 

 family has his home. Let out a long line as in roach fishing, and 

 allow your bait to swim down about half a yard or so from the side. 

 There goes your float. No mistake about that bite, as the merry 

 music of your reel testifies, the fish taking out line rapidly. A 

 'pounder' this time, and if some of our sceptical friends who deride 

 the idea of a grayling being comparable to trout, as regards game- 

 ness, could witness or experience the ' play ' of a fish like this, 

 hooked upon drawn gut in the height of season, I fancy that they 

 would alter their opinions somewhat. 



But the struggle comes to an end at last, and as you dip him 

 out of his native element in your net you cannot help but admire 

 his perfect symmetry and beautiful colouring. How handsome he 

 looks as he lies on the frozen grass, the rich crimson of his large 

 dorsal fin contrasting so well with his black back, and the green 

 and purple sheen of his silvery sides with the milky white of his 

 belly. 



But come along ; we must waste no time, for the days are short 

 at this season of the year. Past the willows we come to a shelving 

 bed of sand and gravel. Cautiously now, my friend, for this is 

 the best swim of all. Over that bar of gravel the stream runs into 

 a deep pool ; adjust your float a little deeper, and proceed as 

 before. No result the first attempt ; your line is out at full stretch ; 

 the float drags on account of the sudden check, and you prepare to 

 pull out for another swim. But before you are almost aware your 

 rod top receives a sudden jerk, and your line comes back to you 

 minus the hook, perhaps the float as well. It's no use, however, 

 'crying over spilt milk,' and I will tell you how to avert the dis- 

 aster in future. In such a place as this when the float gets to the 

 end of the swim, the hook, being lightly weighted rises with the 

 current, and the grayling, coming from below, snatches at it, and 

 snaps the fine drawn gut with the sudden jerk. Never, there- 

 fore, keep yonr finger on the line, also take the precaution 

 before withdrawing to give a gentle strike, in which case should 

 a fish have taken your bait without giving any indication 

 through the medium of your float, you generally succeed in 

 landing. 



