CHAP, i.] FLY-FISHINGTROLLING. 13 



low, carrying half the rod under water. The loch was too deep 

 for me, and he snapped the line in an instant, the rod and the 

 twenty yards of line which remained jerking back into the air, 

 and sending the water in a shower of spray around. Comparing 

 the strength of this fish with that of others which I have killed 

 when trolling, he must have been a perfect water-monster. In- 

 deed I have little doubt that the immense depths of Loch Ness 

 contain trout as large, if not larger, than are to be found in any 

 other loch in Scotland. 



For fly-fishing in lakes, it is difficult to give any rule as to the 

 colour and size of your fly. The best thing you can do is to 

 find out some person whose experience you can depend on, and 

 who has been in the habit of fishing in the particular water 

 where you want to try your own skill, for most lakes have a 

 favourite fly. I have always, when at a loss, had recourse to a 

 red, white, or black palmer. There are very few trout who can 

 withstand these flies when well made. The size of the palmer 

 should depend on the roughness or smoothness of the water. 

 On a dark windy day I have frequently found a white palmer 

 succeed when nothing else would tempt the fish to rise ; while 

 on a bright calm day a small black palmer should be tried. 

 There are endless favourite loch-flies, and it is seldom that a 

 person cannot be found to give you the requisite information as 

 to which to use : however, I never feel much at a loss as long 

 as I have some palmers in my fly-book. 



In putting night-lines into a large lake, the best places are 

 those where any burn or ditch runs into it, or along some shallow 

 sandy or gravelly bay, for in these places the fish feed during 

 the night time. Worms, frogs, and small trout are the best bait 

 for night-lines. In trolling, the small silvery fish supposed to 

 be the young of the salmon, or the small kind of herring called 

 garvies, are the best bait. Preserved in spirits of wine, they 

 keep for a long time, and become so tough, that they do not 

 tear or break off your hook. If you take a fancy to fish with a 

 fly during the night in a lake, a large black fly is the best, but 

 unless it is drawn very slowly through the water, the fish, though 

 they rise, will miss it. 



A small fly which I have found to be always a favourite with 



