66 LOCH-FISHING. 



time ; and, perhaps, the most killing bait is a loach also 

 excellent for large perch, some of which I have caught, 

 when trolling, upwards of three pound weight. 



TROLLING FOR PIKE. 



The common way of rod-fishing for pike in the High- 

 lands, is with a running-bait a par, or small trout, and 

 plenty of hooks, tied back to back on gymp, stuck all 

 round it ; also a couple of large swivels, and the line a 

 little loaded with lead. They always take best mornings 

 and evenings, except on very windy days; so, if the 

 angler is inclined to try a cast for a pike, after having 

 filled his creel with trout, he may begin about six 

 o'clock. 



THE GORGE-TROLL. 



Trolling with the gorge is often very deadly in weedy 

 lochs, especially small openings that cannot be fished 

 with the running-bait. I have seldom, however, seen it 

 used in Scotland, except in a very clumsy way a large 

 double hook, armed upon wire, with the bait inverted, 

 and no attempt to make it spin : unless pike are in a 

 very hungry mood, this is not very enticing. The pro- 

 per gorge-hook is a small double one, commonly used for 

 eels, with very sharp barbs, slightly turned inwards ; the 

 shank loaded with lead, in order to make the bait sink 

 quickly, and enable you to make far casts with precision. 

 This hook is fastened by a small brass ring to about a 



