LOCH TAY 87 



the first at the north-east and the other at the south-west end of 

 the loch. Bridge of Lochy Hotel has three boats and fishes the same 

 water as Killin Hotel. Ardeonaig Hotel has two boats. It is 

 situated about half-way along the loch. Lawers Hotel, opposite 

 Ardeonaig, has two boats and fishes the Kenmore Hotel water. 

 Tighanloan Hotel has two boats and fishes from Teaman to 

 Ardeonaig. 



Provision is also made for a few boats to be fished by those in 

 the neighbourhood who do not reside at one of the hotels, and the 

 reserved water at each end may be fished privately or may be let, 

 so that fully two dozen boats may be calculated as likely to be on 

 the water each fishing day in spring. 



A good deal of variation may of course appear in the results of 

 any individual. The hooking of the fish is practically outside the 

 control of the angler. A novice has just as good a chance as a past 

 master. Since also the fishing is entirely done by artificial minnow 

 a lure which does not readily allow a hooked fish to escape 

 comparatively few fish are lost if the tackle is good and the reel 

 has plenty of line. There is, of course, any amount of room for a 

 fish to move in, and from all accounts some desperate rushes are to 

 be expected. An average fish of about 19 Ib. may be a very lively 

 fellow, but a 35 pounder with open water all round him must 

 certainly take some stopping. I have small experience of loch 

 fishing myself, but I can well understand the accounts one hears. 

 Fish up to 40 Ib. have been taken here, and as to big days, we 

 have records of 10, 11, and even 12 having been got on rare 

 occasions. The best week's fishing is, I believe, that scored by the 

 late Colonel Murray of Polmaise on the Kenmore reserved water. 

 He is reported to have caught 31 fish weighing 600 Ib., the average 

 weight thus being 19 J Ib. 



The charge made for salmon fishing on Loch Tay is identical from 

 whichever hotel the angler puts out. Instead of as formerly making 

 a charge per day, the charge is now made per fish. An angler fish- 

 ing two rods is charged 1 per fish, and a maximum charge for a 

 week's fishing is 5 if more than 5 fish are taken. This arrange- 

 ment prevents the grumble of the man who fishes steadily for some 

 time without getting fish. Formerly he was paying for the time. 

 The new system is found, I understand, to give general satisfaction. 

 For the reserved water a charge of 8 per week is made from the 

 opening to 15th April, when the charge is reduced to 5. The best 

 sport is usually obtained at the commencement of the season, and 



