TROLLING FOR THE SALMO-FEROX. 91 



command of a short line, and you can persuade him to 

 follow the boat, land and kill him from shore. 



While sitting in the stern, be always on the look-out for 

 weeds, and give the alarm. Your boatmen will immediately 

 turn rapidly into the deep ; and you, raising a rod in each 

 hand, as high as possible, should make every effort to 

 keep the baits near the surface. If this is done cleverly, 

 it may prevent that major misery of boat-trolling, a double 

 fast. If fortunate enough to get clear, it may be as well 

 to examine the baits; indeed, this should be done at 

 intervals throughout the day ; as a small green weed 

 attached to the bait will prevent it from spinning, or, at 

 all events, act as a damper to the trout. Fish always for 

 such shy customers with a very long line, especially if 

 there is little wind to curl the water. Where the shores 

 are level, the depth is generally gradual ; therefore try 

 the good places at various depths, as your own judgment 

 may suggest. But should the rock or mountain rise 

 abruptly from the margin, the water almost always deepens 

 suddenly within a short distance of the shore. Once going 

 over is quite enough if you keep between the shallow and 

 the deep, which only occupies a few yards. When sky and 

 water are dull, a large bright bait, such as a salmon-smelt, 

 is very good ; but, if the loch is clear and low, bait one 

 rod with a par instead of a burn-trout, the ordinary bait. 



Never find fault with your boatmen, when the hooks stick 

 fast, for taking you into too shallow water. If you do, 

 they will most likely prevent this annoyance, by keeping 

 too deep for any fish to see your bait. Most fishing-guides 



