CONCERNING THE WIND 195 



that it is to the diminished light that their increased 

 success is due. 



The only day we ever spent on Loch Lyon was, 

 curiously enough, a day of East wind, very light 

 certainly, but still a true wind, not a mere draught 

 diverted by the heights, and the basket of sixty- 

 seven trout to two rods just failed to be the record 

 catch for the year. It was, moreover, a very short 

 day, as the breeze in the afternoon died to an absolute 

 calm undisturbed by a single rise. Our best baskets 

 on Loch Ard have been made under an easterly 

 breeze ; Loch Dochart has given us many good takes 

 as well as our heaviest trout from it, ij lb., a very 

 good fish for that water, when the wind was from 

 the same unpopular direction. 



We know a small private loch on the West where, 

 the boatman tells us, the same conditions are desired 

 as on Loch Leven ; on Loch Lubnaig, a breeze 

 which drifts the boat into the mouth of the Balvaig 

 makes fishing very good, and several fine specimens 

 we have taken there on the dry-fly when the wind 

 was so favourable ; on Loch Lomond the East wind 

 is said to be the best that blows over the Endrick 

 bank. To Loch Leven it brings the cloud, which, 

 for some reason or other, is there required ; to the 

 lochs farther inland it brings the requisite sunshine, 

 and we welcome it wherever we find it. 



East wind is the prevailing wind of the Scottish 

 spring. If the angler seeks the loch or the river in 

 April and the earlier half of May, he is more likely 

 to have it helping or hindering him than any other. 

 Since that is the case, it is probable that trout, as 

 well as the various creatures that form their food, 

 have become accustomed to the general conditions 



