BAITS FOR GRAYLING. 187 



silk, to imitate the body of the animal. This 

 mode of fishing is called sinking and draw- 

 ing. I have seen it practised in this river 

 with as much success as maggot fishing; 

 and the fish taken were all of the largest 

 size; the method being most successful in 

 deep holes, where the bottom was not visible, 

 which are the natural haunts of such fish. 

 In the winter, grayling rise for an hour or 

 two, in bright and tolerably warm weather; 

 and, at this time, the smallest imitations of 

 black or pale gnats that can be made, on 

 the smallest sized hook, succeed best in 

 taking them. In March, the dark-bodied 

 willow fly may be regarded as the earliest 

 fly; the imitation of which is made by a 

 dark claret dubbing and a dun hackle, or 

 four small starling's wing feathers. The 

 blue dun comes on in the middle of the day 

 in this month, and are imitated by dim 

 hackles for wings and legs, and an olive 

 dubbing for body. In mild weather, in 

 morning and evening in this month, and 

 through April, the green tail, or grannom, 

 comes on in great quantities, and is well 



