THE GRAYLING, AND BAIT-FISHING FOR. 439 



The artificial grasshopper so called, fig. i, is merely a 

 rough imitation of the common green caterpillar, dressed over 

 a small piece of lead to carry the bait rapidly to the bottom ; a 

 couple of gentles or so being stuck on to the point of the hook. 

 No float, properly so called, is used, but only a miniature sub- 

 stitute intended to rise and sink with the line, but at the same 

 time to give the fisherman an idea of the depth and position 

 of his bait, b, in the woodcut, fig. 2, represents the sheath or 

 'cap' of quill, into which slips a fine piece of solid quilstem, 



FIG. I. — ARTIFICIAL GRASSHOPPER. 



FIG. 2.— GRAYLING 'FLOAT.' 



A A, cut of a thickness to fit it accurately. The line of course 

 passes between a and b, and is shifted according to the ave- 

 rage depth to be fished. 



The ' grasshopper ' is worked simply by a * sink and draw ' 

 motion — allowed, that is, to go down to the bottom, and then 

 drawn up again about a foot or so as before. The stream is 

 usually strong enough to shift the bait as much as is desirable ; 

 but if the water be too still for this, the result can be arrived 

 at by ' drawing ' the bait a little to the right or left with the 

 rod, as I have pointed out in the ' Modern Practical Angler.' 



The great point is to be quite sure that the bait does touch 

 the bottom before drawing up. 



