CHAPTER XXVI 



A FAVOURITE LOCH 



WHILE it undoubtedly gives us great plea- 

 sure to be afloat on the waters of some 

 unknown loch, a pleasure born of a love 

 for experimenting with different types and sizes 

 of flies, for studying the configuration of the shores 

 and deducing therefrom the nature of what lies 

 hidden beneath the surface, we are equally keen 

 to revisit familiar haunts, scenes of past triumphs. 



Of course speculation and experiment can never 

 be entirely absent from a day's fishing, for the trout 

 in a loch vary their moods from day to day and 

 seldom exhibit the same behaviour, although con- 

 ditions may be to all appearance precisely similar, 

 but it is a considerable advantage to be able to 

 commence operations armed with some previous 

 knowledge ; without hesitation we select a bay and 

 drift across it full of hope, well knowing that, if the 

 fish are in the humour which most strongly appeals 

 to us, we shall be amply rewarded. We know the 

 flies most in favour, and moreover we can with 

 confidence predict the species which will ride the 

 wave if wind and weather are such as are likely to 

 tempt them forth. 



Continually we are reminded of the past ; off that 

 low-lying ledge of rock we hooked and after a fight 



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