176 DRY-FLY FISHING 



length, and the other half may be tapered up to any 

 thickness desired. That strength is as fine as there 

 is any necessity for, except perhaps on well-fished 

 reservoirs, in which the trout may have developed a 

 shyness comparable with that exhibited by their 

 brethren of the river. In judging the strength of 

 the dry-fly cast required for loch-trout, one must 

 bear in mind that a rise is generally expected, as 

 the fly has probably been presented to a visible 

 feeding fish, and therefore it is in all likelihood 

 answered with promptitude, perhaps also with at 

 least a little unnecessary vigour. The rise is unmis- 

 takable, the line tight, the angler on the alert, 

 therefore the cast should be able to stand the sudden 

 call made upon it. Some may think 2x gut rather 

 fine for loch-trout, but as it is, with careful treat- 

 ment, quite capable of dealing with all but most 

 exceptional fish, no greater strength need be used 

 by any angler who desires sport from the trout he 

 hooks. 



Two flies, three or four feet apart, should be tied 

 to the cast, as the arguments used in support of 

 that number for the river apply with even greater 

 force to the loch. The dropper-fly need never be 

 removed, except when the angler is poking among 

 reeds and weeds, and unless he is terrified at the 

 prospect of hooking two trout simultaneously. 



It is possible that the beginner will feel himself 

 compelled to use flies of a larger size than he is 

 accustomed to use on the river, mainly because the 

 wet-flies generally used on lochs are distinctly larger 

 than river patterns. There is no necessity for adding 

 to the number or size of the flies already given ; in 

 fact, one very useful fly on the loch is the smallest 



