198 LOCH-FISHING. 



Angling in Loch Leven has come very much 

 into fashion of late years. For some time it was 

 supposed, upon what grounds we are not aware, 

 that the trout of that loch would not rise freely to 

 the artificial fly. This, however, has been found 

 a mistake ; they rise just as readily as the trout of 

 any other loch, and there are few lochs so well 

 stocked, and certainly none that contain trout of finer 

 quality. We believe that loch contains more trout 

 for its size than any other loch in Scotland, which is 

 entirely attributable to the great extent of its feeding- 

 ground ; the greater part of it being of the uniform 

 depth of from six to twelve feet ; just the depth of 

 water best suited to breeding fish. The fishing is 

 under the management of a tacksman, who keeps a 

 number of boats which are let out at half-a-crown 

 an hour, including a man to manage the boat, and, 

 considering that the trout sell at eighteenpence a 

 pound, that two can fish from a boat, and that 

 anglers are allowed to keep their fish, we think the 

 charge exceedingly moderate. Any of the flies we 

 have recommended for loch-fishing will suit Loch 

 Leven ; we have also had very good sport by trolling 

 with Brown's artificial minnow. 



The artificial fly is by far the most agreeable and 

 sportsmanlike method of capturing trout in lochs, 

 but is liable to this objection, that the large trout 

 are very rarely taken by it. And though the reader 

 may hear of five, six, and even eight pound trout 

 being taken by this means, he may rest assured 



