AUTUMNAL GRAYLING FISHING. 



COMING as it does at the close of the trout season, this 

 branch of flyfishing has many devotees among that class of 

 anglers who are impervious to the discomforts of the weather, 

 and who wish to continue their favourite sport to the end 

 of the year, for even during December, should the water 

 be low and clear, there are frequently days of fine open 

 weather, when at noon time the fish will rise readily. As 

 the author of this little work devoted more attention to 

 flyfishing for trout than for grayling ; and as during the 

 past twenty years a number of killing patterns for grayling 

 flies have been invented, I have thought it best to add a 

 fresh chapter devoted entirely to that subject. The gray- 

 ling is a great deal more capricious fish than the trout, the 

 latter (if in the humour) rises boldly at your fly. sometimes 

 with a considerable splash, but if he misses it, very seldom 

 will he come again, unless under exceptional circumstances, 

 Now a grayling will at times rise over and over again at 

 your fly, and perhaps after missing it three or four times 

 will be hooked and captured. I recollect once throwing 

 over one eight times in succession, it missed the fly in each 

 case, but I basketed him at last. You generally find that 

 a proficient in this branch of angling possesses three impor- 

 tant qualifications, viz., quick sight, a strong wrist, and 

 sensitive touch, the first-named requisition being especially 

 necessary, as the grayling is enabled, by its large dorsal 

 fin, to rise so rapidly, and makes so little break on the sur- 

 face of the water, that sometimes all that the angler sees is 

 the gleam of its white belly, whereupon he should at once 

 strike firmly but gently, otherwise possibly the fly will be 



