156 ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT FISHERIES 



LITTLE LANGDALE TARN 



Little Langdale Tarn occupies a portion of the 

 valley of that name. It contains a great quantity 

 of small trout as well as perch. The trout average 

 3 or 4 ozs. only. They are good in quality ; but 

 whether the angler will care to fish for these finger- 

 lings is a question. April and May are the best 

 fishing months, and the suitable flies those used in 

 the smaller tarns. A boat is indispensable, and 

 one may be hired. A coach road runs up the 

 valley, and accommodation is plentiful. 



GATES WATER 



Gates (or Goats) Water is a small but interesting 

 tarn, picturesquely situated between Coniston Old 

 Man and the great precipice of Dow Crag. In 

 circumference it is about half a mile. From Conis- 

 ton, the most easily accessible centre, it may be 

 approached round the shoulder of the Old Man 

 (by the Walney Scar road), or it will be seen by 

 walking a few yards west from the summit of the 

 mountain. Seen from this point, except during 

 the finest weather, it lies sombre and black in its 

 gloomy recess. The descent from the col to the 

 tarn is quite practicable and worth making, if only 

 for the new aspect of the scenery it presents. 

 Although small, from the angler's standpoint, the 

 tarn is a not unimportant one. It contains trout 

 and char one of the few tarns where the latter 

 beautiful fish is found. The angler whose am- 

 bition it is to take char can almost certainly gratify 

 his desire here ; as, if the right flies are fished 

 (reddish-brown, and dressed on small hooks), he is 

 almost certain to succeed. 



