LOCH-FISHING 185 



attract their attention ; but as it is usual for the 

 angler to fish in about the same depth of water, 

 there is no occasion for his troubling himself about 

 this. 



The colour of the water and the amount of wind 

 should also, to some extent, regulate the colour of 

 the fly. In dark-coloured lochs, red and the more 

 gaudy colours will be found most enticing, while 

 in a clear water brown and the more sober colours 

 will be found best. Also, in a stormy day, a gaudy- 

 coloured fly will answer best, but in a calm one 

 always choose the less glaring colours, and avoid tinsel. 



The only other cause which should influence the 

 angler in selecting the proper size and colour of flies 

 is the wariness of the trout. Where trout are not 

 at all shy, larger and more gaudy flies may be used 

 than where they are much fished for, or shy from any 

 cause, as a shy fish is very suspicious, and will detect 

 the counterfeit in a smaller fly than another fish 

 will. It is exceedingly difficult to regulate the size 

 and colour of flies by theory, but in practice it is 

 much simpler. Keeping the general principles in 

 mind, the angler should commence with two or three 

 different sizes and several different colours, and when 

 he ascertains which is taking best, regulate accord- 

 ingly. Just as in river-fishing, it is advisable, if the 

 trout evince a decided preference for one fly, to put 

 on two or three of that description. 



The gut upon which loch-flies are dressed, and 

 by which the casts are made up, is in general far 

 too thick. All the fine hanks are selected for river 



