CHAPTER X 



LOCH-FISHING 



ANGLING in lochs is not held in such estimation as 

 angling in running water. There is a tiresome mono- 

 tony in fishing continually in still water, where the 

 angler must ply his lure unremittingly in the same 

 manner. There is no whirling eddy, no rippling 

 stream, no projecting bush or bank, where, if the 

 angler casts neatly, he is almost sure to be rewarded 

 for his skill ; the nicety in casting, so essential in 

 order to fish a river successfully, being here almost 

 entirely dispensed with. Nor is there much room for 

 bringing into play knowledge of the habits of the 

 trout, local knowledge almost entirely superseding it ; 

 for the angler, guided by a boatman who is familiar 

 with every bay or bank where sport may be expected, 

 has merely to throw his line, and the only skill 

 requisite is in striking and landing a trout. Fishing 

 from the bank, if the angler is without attendant, 

 requires more knowledge of the habits of the trout 

 than fishing from a boat, as the angler has to find 

 out for himself the places in which to fish ; but with 

 all his skill, he can never tell with any certainty 



