320 A BOOK ON ANGLING 



allowing it to remain still an instant, until the whole of the 

 water be thoroughly searched ; at every touch strike pretty 

 smartly, but not violently, and disturb the water as little as 

 possible in landing your fish, as in October and November, 

 when this deadly lure is chiefly used, the fish are often congre- 

 gated in good numbers in any favourite hole, and with caution 

 many may be caught before the rest are scared. Wheatley 

 recommends a float as an addendum to this process out on it ! 

 and he also recommends the point of the hook to be tipped with 

 a bait of worm or a maggot, to flavour it. 



To give some idea of the deadly nature of these baits on 

 some streams, I have known instances where by the use of 

 it, large twenty-five or thirty pounds baskets have been 

 filled and emptied three times over in one day's fishing by 

 a single rod, and they are always the best and largest fish. 

 It is quite incomprehensible, as on other rivers they take 

 no more notice of the bait than they would of a turnip ; its 

 use being confined chiefly to the Worcester and Shropshire 

 streams the tributaries of the Severn, in fact. It has often 

 been tried in Hampshire, and has not yet succeeded, as far 

 as I know. I dare say it would do in the Derbyshire Wye, but 

 only fly is allowed there fortunately. At Leintwardine, on the 

 Teme, it was allowed for a short time, and the slaughter made 

 of the grayling was positively dreadful, and it was again 

 prohibited, save for about four days in the year, that is, two 

 days before and two after the annual dinner at Leintwardine, 

 as a sort of bonne bouche for those who go down to the dinner. 

 Tremendous bags are made then, but it is found that its use 

 spoils the fly-fishing, as does the minnow with trout ; and it 

 has been clearly proved there that when it is not used the big 

 grayling rise much more freely to the fly. It is certainly an 

 artificial bait, and that is all that can be said for it ; if it be 

 used, some restriction should be placed on it. 



Grayling are also fond of the maggot or gentle, and may be 

 whipped for with them, the bait sinking even to mid-water at 

 times, or a very light quill-float, with about three shots a 

 tripping bait a few gentles being thrown in now and then as 

 ground-bait. A Nottingham line and reel may be employed. 

 A red worm may also be used either in the same way or with a 

 free line, as for trout, and that certainly is the more sportsman- 

 like plan of the two. All these plans, though possible, are not 

 to my mind legitimate, as there is scarcely any reasonable 

 water or weather when grayling will altogether refuse the fly ; 



