GRA YLING. 23 



May, The ova are smaller than those of trout, 

 and are opal-coloured. The young fish hatch in 

 about fifteen days, the period for trout ova varying 

 from forty to fifty days according to temperature 

 and water supply. 



Grayling are not difficult to rise with a fly, but 

 they certainly are to hook. This latter requires 

 a quick eye and a delicate "strike," especially 

 when, as often happens, the fly is taken a few 

 inches below the surface, a ripple or an eddy 

 only betraying the movement. There is no 

 splash, no jump, no swirl as with a trout. The 

 fish is seen to rise straight and rapidly from 

 the bottom, flashing and disappearing with equal 

 ;speed. Sometimes the gleam of the silvery belly 

 is seen before the fish reaches the fly, when the 

 angler invariably strikes too soon. If not pricked, 

 grayling will rise again and again seven or eight 

 times, as we have seen, only to be hooked at 

 last. Once hooked, there is a peculiar " wobble " 

 on the surface of the water a moment when 

 many a good grayling gets rid of the hook. This 

 over, the fish fights gamely, often springing right 

 out of the water. October and November are 

 the best grayling months, though good sport may 

 be had to the end of February, providing there 

 is an absence of " snow broth." Morning and 



O 



evening are the best times for autumn fly-fishing, 



