CHOICE OF PATTERN 83 



flies I have almost always found that I could do as well 

 with the new patterns for trout. 



I am not so clear with regard to grayling, as at 

 times they do seem to have 

 Comparison of rise of an incomprehensible desire to 

 trout and grayling. rise at such patterns as wick- 



hams, red and orange tags, 

 furnace and other bumbles. I think that this is due 

 to some such proclivity as curiosity. A rising trout 

 is poised close to the surface, and, by merely separating 

 its lips, can suck in the passing dun. The rising gray- 

 ling is located at some depth below the water, comes 

 up to each individual insect, and if it has succeeded 

 in timing its movements accurately, arrives at the 

 surface just in time to seize the fly. Immediately 

 after securing the insect the grayling turns and goes 

 down to the position it occupied previously. Often, 

 however, it has apparently miscalculated the pace of 

 the current and misses the fly. This may well account 

 for grayling so often coming short to the artificial. It 

 is, however, arguable that the feeding grayling cannot 

 distinguish the object floating over it from a distance 

 below with the same degree of precision as the trout 

 close to the surface. The fancy fly is something 

 moving and apparently alive, and when the grayling 

 is near enough to see it clearly it is possible that it is 

 tempted to try its flavour. 



Some of my readers may have adopted my own 

 plan of discarding the old patterns and confining them- 

 selves to the new set. Others may have full faith in 



