THE GRAYLING. 175 



Bat though, undoubtedly fishing up stream for trout is 

 the most artistic and killing method, it is not so in the 

 case of grayling. Mr. Francis's directions on this point 

 are worth transcribing: — 



" As, more particularly in deepish water, he has to rise from some 

 depth, you should not hurry the fly in casting, but make your cast 

 rather drag. For this reason, fishing up stream and drawing down is 

 not the best method of fishing, because you do not give the fish time ; 

 and all experienced grayling-fishers cast directly across stream, as close 

 as possible to the opposite bank, where the best fish of course lie, and 

 let it drag slowly round down stream, bringing it round by so direct- 

 ing the point of the rod even to their own bank. In bringing the fly 

 round slowly like this it will often become submerged, and the gray- 

 ling, rising quietly under water, will take the fly without being seen, 

 and reject it speedily. Many rises will thus be lost, and these are 

 often the best fish. To avoid this, the angler should give a short 

 twiteh or strike at everything in the least suspicious that may lead 

 him to infer that a fish has risen. A dimple or curl in the water 

 where no eddy exists, or stoppage o£ the line in its downward course, 

 &c. &c, should instantly be attended to, and very often the angler will 

 be rewarded for his keenness." 



Among other Nota-benes for the grayling fly-fisher are 

 — Strike as quickly as possible ; remembering the ten- 

 der mouth of your fish, strike as lightly as possible, 

 with a gentle turn of the wrist ; play him as delicately 

 as possible. Always carry a landing-net, and never 

 attempt to " weigh out " a grayling by the line. Let 

 your fly frequently float down stream, and sometimes 

 sink towards the bottom. If a fish rises and you miss 

 him or he misses you, cast over him a second and a 

 third time, and indeed many times, for a grayling has 

 a habit of making many attempts to secure his object. 

 You. may often see a fish take your fly just below the 

 surface of the water -without " breaking " the surface ; 



