Fly Fishing for Grayling. 183 



before said, four things are required on your part 

 very fine tackle, and small flies, a light hand to 

 throw with, careful management when the fish 

 is hooked he has a most tender mouth and 

 patience. On the fish's part one only is requisite 

 that he should rise at and take your fly. 



The trout in the Teme are very poor eating, 

 although they run large. Once, in August, after 

 a flood, I took some big fish one 4 Ibs., and a 

 good many from 2 Ibs. to 2| Ibs. chiefly with the 

 Ant fly, and when the river was too full and too 

 dirty for grayling. I had that year a curious 

 encounter with a fish. There had been a flood, 

 and the water was gradually settling and clearing, 

 but not clear enough for grayling fishing. I had 

 gone out to try for trout, which, when feeding, lie 

 close to the surface. I had put on a large August 

 Brown, and had taken one or two, when, in the 

 deep river, just below General Drummond's Pool, 

 there was a tremendous swirl. My line tightened, 

 and I found I had got hold of something very big. 

 Away, with such a whirl of the reel, went my line, 

 and after a few yards had run out I began running 

 too, and pretty rapidly; but it was of no use. The 

 fish, whatever it was, took the whole of my line 

 between thirty and forty yards off the reel, and then 

 broke me. I had passed in hot haste a friend or two, 

 who gave place when they saw what was up, and 



