94 TROUTING FLIES, 



These, the larger or spring sizes of loch flies may, I 

 observe, one and all of them, be employed with success 

 in angling for sea-trout or whitlings; indeed, when 

 inclined to rise, there is almost no variety of hook, pro- 

 vided it be of fitting dimensions, which the fish spoken 

 of will positively refuse. That they possess in common 

 with the fario, humours and caprices, there is little 

 doubt; but these, I have noticed extend rarely to a 

 matter which many anglers think highly important, viz., 

 the prevailing colour of the fly. I have caught them, 

 in their seasons, with lures of every hue, brown, black, 

 white, crimson, blue, green, purple, grey, dun, yellow, 

 and orange ; nay, more, with combinations of two or 

 several such colours, and admixtures, to boot, of all 

 varieties of tinsel. Their tastes in fact, with respect to 

 this matter, resemble more those of the solar or proper 

 salmon than those of the trout, although exercised gene- 

 rally in a state or condition of water somewhat different. 



During summer, and in weather comparatively calm, 

 loch trout may be taken more readily with a small than 

 with a large fly. On such occasions, the sizes and kinds 

 of hooks already recommended for stream fishing, will 

 be found sufficiently available. 



To continue the matter necessarily deviated from in 

 these observations, I proceed, having treated of June 

 and July in respect to their qualifications as fly-fishing 

 months, to extend my line of remarks to August and 

 September, or the concluding portion of the trouting 

 season. It has been pretty well ascertained with regard 

 to the river trout of Scotland, that it is in prime or first- 

 rate condition during the middle of summer and that, 

 subsequent to the latter end of July, it gradually loses 

 curd, bulk, and firmness ; the red-fleshed varieties 

 becoming pale, flabby, and ill-flavoured. Some indivi- 



