FLY FISHING FOR TROUT AND GRAYLING. 319 



took with the fly weighed but two pounds and three-quarters, 

 nor do I remember to have ever raised a larger. They run 

 much in sizes, and in the streams of Shropshire and Hereford- 

 shire, where I am most at home, the September fish, represent- 

 ing the well-grown ' shetts ' of the previous year, run close upon 

 three-quarters of a pound, while those a year older weigh about 

 a pound more. These latter are really noble fish, and give 

 excellent sport with fine tackle ; yet they fall far short of those 

 killed with the gentle, especially when combined with that 

 attractive lure, the 'artificial grasshopper.' 



The heaviest basket I ever heard of was made at Leintwar- 

 dine by the late Sir Charles Cuyler — a sportsman who had, I 

 believe, no superior with the gun and very few with the rod. 

 The exact weight, taken at one bout with the ' pointed ' grass- 

 hopper, I cannot recall, but the best nine fish weighed twenty- 

 seven pounds. 



The grasshopper, as I tie it, has a plumpish body, ribbed with 

 alternate strands of green and golden floss silk, with a narrow 

 strip of fine quill or straw laid lengthwise on each side. The 

 hook is about the size of that used for a small green drake, and 

 along the back of it is lapped a small slip of lead, to facilitate 

 sinking. Care should be taken that the bulk of the grasshopper 

 may be chiefly at the back of the hook, in order not to interfere 

 with the hold, and there should be room for a couple of gentles 

 or a small worm-tail. 



As the large fish suck this in after a most gingerly fashion, it 

 is usual to have an inch or so of a small-barrelled quill, some- 

 thing like a miniature float, sliding along the line, just far 

 enough from the hook to be always kept in sight during the 

 process of 'sinking and drawing.' When a fish takes, this 

 is seen to make a slight but sudden downward movement, so 

 that the angler's eye gives him warning before his hand can 

 feel the touch. 



[Diagrams of the artificial grasshopper and float will be 

 found in Mr. Pennell's article on ' Bait Fishing for Grayling.'] 



Were I deliberately pot fishing without regard for the 



