66 LOCH-FISHING. 



lochs the fish go in shoals, so that the angler 

 should be in no hurry to leave the spot on which 

 the fish are feeding on the supposition that he 

 would do better elsewhere. Beginners frequently 

 change too often from one drift to another, and. 

 owing to this, probably miss the take when it is 

 on. 



As to the various depths of water to be fished 

 during the season, the following general rule will 

 be found useful : March, April, and September 

 6 to 8 feet ; May and June 4 to 8 feet ; July and 

 August 3 to 6 feet. 



An easy way to find the depths is to sound 

 occasionally with an oar. In such lochs as Tay 

 and Earn the only fishing-ground is near the 

 shore, so that the angler must be careful not to 

 let the boat drift into too deep water. 



When playing a fish the rod should be kept 

 almost perpendicular, and the line never allowed 

 to get slack except in the case of a leap out of 

 the water, when the point of the rod should mo- 

 mentarily be lowered. One thing to be done 

 immediately a large fish is hooked is to try and 

 take it to windward. If this is not attended to in 

 stormy weather, the boat is almost certain to drift 

 over the line and entangle the flies. Great care 

 must be taken when using the landing-net to sink 

 it well, and whenever the fish is seen to be safely 

 within it, the point of the rod should be lowered. 



