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434 SALMON AND TROUT. 
that gentleman does not give, namely, that when the fish refuse 
the fly at surface, they will frequently take it if allowed to sink 
towards the bottom. 
Although instances have been known, and that not -infre- 
quently, of grayling taking the spinning minnow, it is not 
believed that they resemble trout in their minnow-feeding 
propensities, or that the minnow forms any important part of 
their dietary. The best mode of bait-fishing is undoubtedly 
with the gentle, either in connection with the artificial grass- 
hopper, or on the hook of an artificial fly, or by itself. 
To take the last first, gentle-fishing with the float is a most 
killing method of taking the grayling. Indeed, Jones, the fisher- 
man aforesaid, whose experience is, perhaps, unequalled, has 
repeatedly told me that he considered it, on the whole, the most 
deadly method that could be practised and that it will not 
unfrequently succeed when all other baits fail. It is especially 
good when the water is too much coloured for flies. The 
modus operandi is as follows :—Take a long stiffish, light 
rod and a fine running line—such as Nottingham silk, for 
example—with very fine gut, or, still better (face Jones), single 
hair float-line, and a very small hook, about No. 1 of my 
patterns, which should be-baited with two gentles, never more. 
A float about three inches long and exceedingly light should 
be used, with a single good-sized shot, say No. 3, about three- 
quarters of a foot above the hooks. 
The float should be light enough for this shot to ‘cock’ 
it properly. Choose a very quiet hole or swim, and plumb the 
depth ; allowing sufficient float-line over to let the shot touch 
the bottom. For ground bait use gentles simply—either carrion 
or liver—and proceed to fish as if for roach, the only difference 
being that a little more time must be allowed in striking a bite 
and the stroke should be a very gentle one, as the mouth of 
the grayling is delicate. It is a good plan in ground-baiting to 
keep on throwing in a few gentles—say half-a-dozen or so at a 
time—so that the attention of the fish may be kept, as it were, 
