DRAKE-FISHING ON LOCHS. 251 



comparatively little very deep water. Three-fourths of the 

 lake is fishing water, whereas as a rule nine-tenths of the 

 water in most lakes is quite unproductive, being mere 

 winter quarters for the trout to lay up in. In fishing a 

 lake, find out the wind that suits it beyond all. It is curi- 

 ous how much this varies. On Loch Leven, for example, the 

 worst wind that blows is a south-west wind. I have been 

 out in a nice south-west breeze and not taken a fish. Some 

 lakes, as Loch Ard, fish with comparatively little wind ; 

 other lakes, as Loch Lomond, want half a gale ; and if it is 

 from the south-west and two men can only just manage 

 the boat, the angler is an awful muff who can't score the 

 game between Inversnaid and Ardlui. Then, ag^in, the 

 angler should know the right month for the loch. In this 

 there is no end of difference. In Ireland, where the May 

 fly comes heavily on many lakes, the angler should be in 

 Westmeath early in May, and thence he can cross to Sligo 

 and Lough Erne and get fine drake-fishing till the second 

 week in June ; but there is very little drake-fishing in 

 Scotland. I have seen it on several lakes moderately, but 

 I never saw the fish take much notice of it. There is a 

 lake up near the Crinan Canal. The name (phonetically) 

 is Loch Kulipper. I am told that there, there is a heavy 

 rise of drake, and the fish take it nobly and are fat and 

 fine in consequence, but this is an exception. Some 

 lakes fish well in April, as is the case of Loch Ard and 

 Loch Vennacher, but it is full early. May is the best 

 month ; then Loch Awe and many others come on. June 

 pays well on Loch Lomond and Loch Katrine, the latter 

 being a very late loch and fishing well even in July, so that 

 the angler can judiciously dodge from one to the other if 

 he knows the ropes. 



But though giving useful information, I am getting 

 away from the art and mystery of the craft. Having suited 

 yourself with the day and the wind, put a spare cast of 



