196 LOCH-FISHING. 



time, will also, when applied to loch-fishing, be 

 found absurd. We should like to know what in- 

 sects the gaudy-coloured loch-flies in common use 

 are intended to represent, or what part of the body 

 it is that is imitated by the tinsel so lavishly be- 

 stowed. Certainly, we ourselves never saw any 

 insects like artificial loch-flies. 



It is quite unnecessary to have a large collection 

 of flies, and the following comprise all that are 

 necessary for any loch in which trout are to be 

 found : Red, purple, orange, yellow, blue, brown, 

 and green bodies, made either of Berlin wool or 

 mohair, and with or without tinsel. Wings of 

 feathers taken from the jay, woodcock, grouse, teal, 

 or mallard (we prefer the three first mentioned), 

 with black and red cock-hackles, or the small 

 feathers alluded to when treating of river-flies, 

 varied to suit the colour of the fly. A tail is an 

 improvement to the appearance of a good-sized fly, 

 and may be made of a few fibres of the feathers 

 taken from the neck of the golden pheasant, or a 

 tuft of Berlin wool of a different colour from the 

 body of the fly. In loch as in river fishing, the 

 angler must be cautioned against trusting too much 

 in flies. 



In dressing loch-flies, the hackle may either be 

 carried down the full length of the body, or con- 

 fined to the part immediately below the wings; 

 the latter is perhaps preferable, as it makes a neater 

 and more shapely fly. Commence operations at 



