THE GRAYLING 



The Grayling is not so plentiful in Scotland as it is in England. 

 It is found in a tew ot the Border streams, and in the river 

 Clyde is now very plentiful. The farthest north river in which it 

 has established itself is the Isla in Perthshire. This river swarms 

 with them, and thev are the finest gravling; I have seen, the averaofe 

 weight of those I have caught here being over a pound. Many of 

 them, however, are from i to 3 lbs., and sometimes over. So plentiful 

 are they that when fishing for pike on one occasion our men brought 

 ashore twelve dozen in one haul of the net. No doubt, in the course 

 of time, this will be one of the most lamous places for grayling in 

 Great Britain. The river is a very large one, and is in many places 

 from 60 to 90 yards wide. It is deep, Hows smoothly, and has a 

 mud bottom and plenty of food which suits their taste. These 

 grayling were introduced at Kenmore about thirty years ago by 

 Lord Breadalbane. The Tay being too rapid for them, no doubt led 

 them to seek more suitable quarters, and some had found their way 

 into the quiet waters of the Isla, where they are now fairly established. 

 They spawn about April, and are not worth catching until August or 

 September, although October and November are the best months. 

 Their flesh is white, and when in good condition is quite good for 

 the table. They rise freely to fly, but are more difficult to catch when 

 in good condition. A small dry fly is usually the most successful lure. 

 In cold, frosty weather they take a small red worm freely. Although 

 one may sometimes get "here and there a lusty trout, and here and 

 there a grayling," usually where grayling increase trout decrease. 



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