238 ROD AND RIVER 



of the water moves them far more naturally than 

 if they are tugged at and made to jump about by 

 any motion of the rod. A man may be ever so 

 good a river-fisherman, but so long as he can 

 make a cast of some sort, at all clear of the boat, 

 the veriest novice will be more likely to catch fish 

 than he, inasmuch as the latter, being unable to 

 use his rod, is forced to leave his flies alone, 

 whereas the former cannot resist doing his best to 

 cast cleanly and well, and trying to fish too much 

 on the surface of the water. Thus his very 

 ability to fish becomes a drawback to his success. 

 Such was the case when my companion and I 

 visited Lochleven. I had no previous experience 

 of loch-fishing, and he had scarcely ever fished in 

 his life. Having put his rod and tackle together 

 and set him to work, I proceeded to do the same 

 for myself. Now, I had been fishing from child- 

 hood, and thought I knew a good deal about it. 

 I tried my very utmost, but for every fish I 

 succeeded in capturing my companion caught 

 at least three, besides hooking and losing any 

 amount more, and yet he was scarcely able to 

 throw his line a yard in front of him, and knew 

 absolutely nothing but what he had learned from 

 me. This went on for several days ; indeed, until 

 our leave was at an end. On our returning again, 

 some few weeks later, I experienced just the same 

 luck ; I was utterly disgusted with myself, but 



