172 LOCH -PISHING. 



not so apt to stumble upon them : the waves also prevent 

 their seeing the fly so readily. 



When there is a fine even breeze, immediately repair to 

 the loch. Begin to fish those parts where the wind blows 

 fairest from the shore ; if you know the loch well, you 

 have a great advantage. The trout have many feeding 

 places, and shift from one to another with the slightest 

 change of the wind. Near some one of these they generally 

 keep watching the breeze, which blows them flies and 

 insects. They are usually in companies^ so when the 

 angler hooks one, he should endeavour to get it away from 

 the rest j he will then most likely rise another the next 

 throw or two. He must keep a very sharp look-out for 

 these places, and may generally detect them by the rising 

 of the trout. They sometimes, but not so often, feed singly. 



When a fish takes the fly, raise your arm with a sort 

 of indescribable turn of the wrist : if this is done with a 

 jerk, the fly is whipped away from the trout; but if 

 omitted altogether, it will often make its escape, after 

 feeling the hook. It is for want of knack in this par- 

 ticular that so many trout are lost after having risen to 

 the fly. When you hook a good fish that never shows 

 above water, but swims low with a dead heavy pull, be 

 very cautious ; it is most likely tenderly hooked, and, with 

 the least strain upon the line, will break away. 



The shore, in many parts of the lochs, is fringed with 

 weeds, beyond which you may cast by wading. Should 

 you hook a trout in such a situation, and not find an open- 

 ing to lead it through, use every endeavour to keep it 



