LOCH AWE 127 



On the other hand, trout fishing from a boat, on 

 a large and beautiful loch, affords fascinations that 

 do not occur in river fishing, and which the devotee 

 of that form of sport does not comprehend. On 

 the loch you have the pleasure, probably, of the 

 companionship of a fellow-angler ; also the boatman 

 — or gillie, as he is generally called in Scotland — 

 who so often forms a most interesting study in 

 human nature, and from whose characteristics much 

 satisfaction may be gained. 



There is a mysterious excitement engendered by 

 the fishing of a large loch, with its rocky shores — 

 its numerous islands and bays ; for the bays often 

 differ greatly in character one from another: one 

 is sandy, another weedy or rocky, and each of 

 them contains trout varying in size, appearance, or 

 quality; while the excitement is augmented by the 

 knowledge that possibly the next fish that rises to 

 your fly may be a grilse, or even a salmon. More- 

 over, there is a feeling, when starting out in the 

 morning, of unknown dangers to be braved — for 

 wild storms frequently sweep these Highland lochs, 

 approaching with great suddenness and with little 

 warning. 



Loch Awe, which is a large sheet of water, 



