4O Scotch Loch-Fishing. 



which you are fishing. Nothing is more ridicu 

 lous than whipping the water with a cast, of 

 the suitableness of which you have any doubt ; 

 and to guard against any such chance, study 

 carefully the state of the weather and the wind. 

 If very clear, use sombre flies ; but if a dark 

 day, use brighter flies. You will of course regu- 

 late the size according to the breeze, but as a 

 rule, err on the side of small flies. When you 

 raise a fish, strike at once. It is quite possible 

 that by this method you may once in a while 

 strike the least bit too soon, but it is a safe 

 plan to go by. There is always a particle of 

 a moment spent in the tightening of the line ; 

 and by the time the angler sees a fish at his 

 flies, he may safely conclude that it has already 

 seized or missed them, and the sooner he ascer- 

 tains the true state of matters by striking in- 

 stantaneously, the better. If the fish has not 

 been touched by line or hook, cast gently over 

 him again : the chances are that there will be 

 another rise, and, if the fish has been feeding, 

 every likelihood that the second or even a third 

 time may be lucky. In striking small fish, the 

 least tightening of the line is sufficient ; but 



