Reviewed by M. A. Roe
ONE of the great joys of winter for many anglers is that it is regarded as the season when we go chasing the ladies.
However, before anyone gets the wrong idea, the ladies I speak of are the Ladies of the Stream, or grayling, as they are more commonly known.
These beautiful fish represent the crossover between game and coarse angling. For many years particularly on the hallowed chalk-streams, grayling were regarded as vermin and persecuted by those who wished to see their rivers as the sole domain of trout.
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In the North of England, Scotland and elsewhere in the world grayling were accorded the esteem that is truly their right as beautiful sporting fish. I am happy to say that this more enlightened view now holds sway even on the chalk-streams of Southern England.
Increasingly, anglers are seeking grayling, particularly in the winter months, for those who are hoping to join this happy band, this book has got to be regarded as the present definitive volume to have on the subject.
The first half of the book is of the greatest use to the new angler, who will benefit from the discussions on the origins and distribution of grayling and fishing for grayling in different areas of the country. From here the two major ways of catching grayling are discussed in depth using coarse fishing and fly fishing techniques.
Some of today’s coarse anglers may raise an eyebrow at some of the tackle and techniques employed and perhaps more could have been made of this area of the book in the light of modern developments in tackle and techniques.
The following chapter on the flies that catch grayling gives the reader a huge range of fly dressings from Britain and abroad. This collection would suitably arm the angler with virtually every pattern they would ever need to catch grayling anywhere in the world. If I have a criticism to make here it is that the superb colour plates illustrating the flies are at the front of the book, and they would have been better placed with the pattern descriptions. A minor but irritating point.
Also missing is any guidance on the sort of fly tackle that an angler might wish to obtain when switching to river fly-fishing.
Methods and tactics are discussed at relevant points within the appropriate chapters of the book rather than as a separate ‘how to’ section. This is all to the good as it encourages one to read the whole book rather than selected parts, a refreshing change from so many of today’s ‘how to’ style of book.
The latter half of the book discusses grayling fishing in many locations around the Northern Hemisphere including Europe, Scandinavia and America, thus the travelling angler is catered for.
For the Gourmet there is a selection of recipes.
Taken as a whole the book is recommended and will provide a sound basis for the angler who wishes to seek these lovely fish. However there remains some room for further development.
Published by Robert Hale Ltd, London.
Price £ 35.
