io6 AN ANGLER'S RAMBLES 



Loch Katrine, occasionally passing a fly over the most tempting 

 of its baylets, to Glen Gyle. After an hour's toying with the 

 moor-trout in the linns of Glen Gyle burn (the springs of which 

 are now directed towards the throats of thirsty teetotallers and 

 punch-bibbers in Glasgow), I took to the heather, and close 

 upon sunset arrived at the heights which front Loch Lomond at 

 its upper extremity. Having descended these, I pressed towards 

 Auldtarnan, an inn at the foot of Glen Falloch, where, as far as 

 I can recollect, I found comfortable quarters for the night. Next 

 morning, July 28th, I fished up Glen Falloch as far as the main 

 road allowed, and proceeded by the Strathfillan water to Tyndrum. 

 When reverted to at this distance of time, the sport I met with 

 after leaving the Dochart, up to the stage above named, was ex- 

 tremely discouraging, but it affords simple evidence of the fact, 

 that it is useless, unless favoured by adventitious weather, to 

 press the acceptance of artificial flies, let them be ever so killing 

 to the eye of the angler, upon trout in midsummer, when bottom 

 food is so abundant. Were I to go over the same water now, I 

 mean the running portion of it, at the same season, and under 

 the same conditions, I should without scruple or hesitation sub- 

 stitute the worm for feather-work, in the perfect confidence of 

 being able to realize a tenfold aggregate. 



Leaving Tyndrum, I proceeded to the Urchay, the main 

 feeder of Loch Awe, a river held in fair repute by the salmon- 

 fisher. Its spring casts, however, over which the tenant of the 

 inn and farm at Dalmally exercises control, are limited in extent. 

 The early salmon are seldom known to be taken with the rod 

 higher up than Caitnish, where there is a fall or Ess of some 

 height. It is only during autumn, or in the grilse season, that 

 fish in any quantity move towards Loch Tolla, in the heights of 

 Glenorchy, where, at Ardvrecknish, one of the Earl of Breadal- 

 bane's principal shooting-lodges is situated. After breakfasting 



