; ic* <' ENGLISH LAKE; DISTRICT FISHERIES 



the time varies for catching them. The plumb- 

 line is not much used here, because it is considered 

 more bother than it is worth. Trolling is done 

 with about 40 yards of line and a char-bait, or 

 natural minnow ; and if the weather gets warm at 

 the end of April the char come close to the surface, 

 and can be caught till about the end of June. If, 

 however, the weather is cold, they will not take 

 properly till about the end of May. The largest 

 take that I know of has been three dozen in a day. 

 In September they will, as a rule, take again. 



"The trout-fishing begins on April ist, and is at 

 its best in May. The local people troll, which is a 

 poor way to catch trout. They get very few, but 

 the largest are caught on the minnow ; the fly will 

 catch far more. Wading from the shore is a very 

 successful method of fishing, but one wants to 

 know the lake well.. It is a good rule always to 

 fish where the bottom is stony, and not to fish 

 places full of weeds, mud or clay. 



" A good wind is a necessity ; not a wind which is 

 squally, such as east or west, but sometimes even 

 then they will rise well, but only on the windy side 

 of the lake. A good south or south-west wind is 

 best, and a clear day with the sun flashing in and 

 out. A north wind is sometimes very good. Of 

 course one is often deceived, and finds one cannot 

 rise a fish, although the conditions seem favour- 

 able ; but to persevere is best ; they will be certain 

 to rise all at once, and will stop rising just as 

 suddenly. This, of course, is natural. Fishing 

 in rain is often successful, but not if the lake is 

 rising. 



" The trout all through the season take the red- 

 hackle, March brown, hare's ear , and woodcock; 



