GRAYLING. 23 
May. The ova:are smaller than those of trout, 
and are opal-coloured. The young fish hatch in 
about fifteen days, the period for trout ova varying 
from forty to fifty days according to temperature 
and water supply. 
Grayling are not difficult to rise with a fly, but 
they certainly are to hook. This latter requires 
a quick eye and a delicate “strike,” especially 
when, as often happens, the fly is taken a few 
inches below the surface, a ripple or an eddy 
only betraying the movement. There is no 
splash, no jump, no swirl as with a trout. The 
fish is seen to rise straight and rapidly from 
the bottom, flashing and disappearing with equal 
speed. Sometimes the gleam of the silvery belly 
is seen before the fish reaches the fly, when the 
angler invariably strikes too soon. If not pricked, 
grayling will rise again and again—seven or eight 
times, as we have seen, only to be hooked at 
last. Once hooked, there is a peculiar “ wobble” 
on the surface of the water—a moment when 
many a good grayling gets rid of the hook. This 
over, the fish fights gamely, often springing right 
out of the water. October and November are 
the best grayling months, though good sport may 
be had to the end of February, providing there 
is an absence of “snow broth.” Morning and 
evening are the best times for autumn fly-fishing, 
