THE EXPERT GRAYLING FISHER. 2OI 



The ancient belief in the stoppage of sport during 

 a thunderstorm is not strictly true. Some little time 

 before the breaking of the storm atmospheric influence 

 appears to act detrimentally, almost invariably through 

 the warmer months, but during the storm itself the 

 fish will rise more often than not most eagerly at the 

 numerous insects drowned during the downpour, and 

 this too, whilst the electric fluid gleams and the 

 thunder roars immediately overhead, all without 

 visible effect upon the fish. As regards the fisherman 

 we fear the same observations do not apply with 

 equal truth. The nearest sycamore tree or honey- 

 suckle hedge is sought, and the angler is seldom to 

 be convinced, save by practical arguments, that the 

 time for taking fish is while the rain falls, just as the 

 time for making hay is whilst the sun shines, as the 

 old adage has it. 



Between the tyro and the proficient grayling fisher 

 there exists a wider gulf than is the case with the 

 experienced and inexperienced in any other branch 

 in the whole art of fishing. Practical skill and 

 general artistic bearing are more fully exemplified 

 in fishing for grayling, than for trout and salmon, 

 whilst upon the same ground the unskilled efforts 

 of the bungler stand at a yet more glaring contrast. 

 Mark the long sweeping casts of the adept across 

 and up-stream, ever true to the circulating eddy, the 

 centre of which forms the " bull's-eye " at which to 

 aim. See the gradually whirled line, how lightly and 

 efficiently it is cast, the obstructive force of the air 

 and the flowing water being all taken into eonsidera- 



