WINDERMERE 77 



running out the whole of the line be certain that 

 the minnow spins properly. When this is neg- 

 lected, as it sometimes is, a good deal of time and 

 temper is wasted. The boat is rowed at about 1 1 

 miles an hour, and from forty to eighty yards 

 from the shore gives the best results. If a bell is 

 used on the rod it will give notice when a fish 

 strikes, but personally I think a bell a nuisance. 

 A Windermere trout lets you know soon enough 

 when he is hooked, but delicate handing is required 

 to bring him safely to the net. The rod is laid in 

 the boat and the line drawn in hand over hand. 

 I have occasionally " lifted " fish, but this is unwise, 

 and a capacious landing-net should always be 

 carried. 



Trout may occasionally be got by trolling on a 

 dull, cloudy day, with wind, the only difference in 

 the method of procedure being that a greater 

 quantity of line is necessary, and the bait requires 

 to be sunk a little. 



A small char or trout, baited on a flight of 

 suitable size, dressed on grilse gut, with trace to 

 correspond, will sometimes account for a heavy 

 fish. Indeed a char, if one can be got small enough, 

 is by far the best bait for a big fish. 



In conclusion let me state that there is a great 

 charm about trolling on Windermere, and the 

 angler will never forget a summer night so spent. 

 As the light fades the sounds on the lake become 

 fewer and fewer, and by midnight one is alone on 

 the lake. There is no sound save that of the oars 

 in the rowlocks and the soft swish of the water. 

 The experience is pleasant enough in itself, but 

 trout-fishing, and with good sport, one realises that 

 life is a delightful thing. 



