FLIES FOR THE MONTH. 257 



to leave their retreat to meet death, either in the jaws 

 of the fish or by the nipping wind of night-fall. A 

 capital fancy fly throughout the grayling season is 

 an artificial we term the Winter Dun. The body of 

 this is formed of flat gold or silver, neatly laid on ; 

 legs, light blue hen's hackle ; wings fieldfare. This 

 fly should be fished point. We can commend this 

 before all the fancy fly species for the allurement of 

 grayling in either clear or discoloured water. In the 

 early winter season the flies prevalent in February 

 will be out ; the sombre-hued dun of that month, and 

 on fine days the cock-winged dun will be seen about ; 

 and as flies appear merely in nominal numbers, the 

 grayling exhibit great eagerness in taking what comes 

 within their ken. Should the day prove cloudy, with 

 wind or showers of rain, the Light Bumble will be 

 found deadly, as will also the Grey Palmer. Upon 

 these occasions the Cinnamon Fly is often to be 

 observed on and about the water, and when this is so 

 a copy may be placed as dropper* with advantage, 

 as, though grayling as a rule prefer small flies, the 

 big fish will often rise to larger lures. In clear 

 water the fish will sometimes be observed to double 

 back, after cautiously rising to the surface, without 

 closing on the fly presented. This is often owing to 

 the tackle being too strong and coarse. We would 

 impress upon the tyro in the art of " flying " for 

 grayling, the absolute necessity of the very finest 



* The reasons for employing this fly as "bob" are simple. It being 

 a full-winged fly, a good sized hook may be used, which, being well 

 feathered, is more buoyant on the water, and more natural, and you can 

 make almost certain of hooking every fish that rises at it. 



