A BOOK OF FISHING STORIES 



cussed in this chapter, but probably more of these fish are 

 caught by anglers in lochs than in rivers. It is a pity that 

 this should have to be so, but, if a loch is accessible, sea trout 

 will not rest till they get to it, and there they are content to 

 remain till they go up the small streams to spawn. Loch 

 fishing is for obvious reasons not so interesting as river fishing. 

 There are not the variety and individuality of stream and pool 

 and condition of water ; whilst in most cases it is necessary 

 to fish from a boat, drifting sideways with the wind, so that 

 the angler is always moving involuntarily towards his own 

 flies, which he is at the same time working towards himself. 

 Most people very much prefer to fish from firm ground, where 

 they can cast when they please, move as they please, and stop 

 where they please to linger over a favourite place. 



On some lochs, however, the sea trout lie near the sides, 

 and can be reached either from the bank or by wading. There 

 the angler can be independent, and may have very good sport, 

 though the advantage of covering a large extent of water turns 

 the scale in favour of a double-handed rod. Except on very 

 rough days, fine tackle is important in loch fishing, and as, in 

 angling from the bank, one cannot make sure of being able to 

 follow the fish, it is necessary, not to have a heavier line, but 

 to have more of it. I once hooked a grilse of nearly five pounds 

 on trout tackle, and a single-handed rod, when I had only 

 thirty yards of line on the reel, and when I was fishing from 

 the bank of a loch on which there was no boat. Twice the 

 grilse ran dangerously near to the limit of the line ; twice, as 

 a last resource, I slacked the line as much as I could, in the 



40 



