252 NOTES ON THE MONTHS FOR FLY-FISHING. 



in preparing the water and its inhabitants for the 

 pursuit of sport ; and the most favourable time for the 

 tyro in fly-fishing for grayling is to repair to the 

 river's bank when the water and weather are thus 

 favourable. Grayling will frequently take a sunken 

 fly upon the stills, ofttimes even when some consider- 

 able distance below the surface ; but this method 

 need never be resorted to when they care for surface 

 feeding. Upon windy days the Cinnamon fly is often 

 found useful amongst the trout, which are as partial 

 to the larger naturals as the grayling to the smaller 

 ones. In genial weather it is of little use employing 

 it ; as, although there may be thousands upon the 

 grassy bank near the river, a smart breeze is needful 

 to carry them upon the water within the reach of the 

 fish. Clear, frosty nights tend to improve autumn 

 fishing. They invigorate the grayling, causing them 

 to fight gamely when hooked, which is the case with 

 other fish seasonable in the colder season. 



OCTOBER. 



This month may be said to be the best in the year 

 in which to fish, for grayling, which are now in prime 

 condition. These fish have acquired a reputation for 

 being less wily, and therefore more easily deluded 

 than trout. This may have originated from the fact 

 of their being at times given, like the salmon, to take 

 some gaudy combination resembling no living insect 

 in creation. The angler who contemplates an excur- 

 sion to the haunts of these fish, fully expecting to 

 do much execution by such unnatural lures, will, nine 



