324 THE MOOR AND THE LOCH. 



if the fish should flounder its whole body out of water in coming 

 at the fly, the effect is very imposing, and even a six-pounder 

 will appear to the novice a perfect monster. 



When hooked fish splash on the top of the water, take great 

 care, or you may break their hold by too tight a strain. The 

 opposite extreme is equally dangerous, as they may then shake 

 the hook out of their mouth. It is the nicety of art to let 

 them get down without falling into either error. Should the 

 river be small, of course most of the heavy fish will be collected 

 in the deepest pools. Pay most attention to them. When 

 stones and rocks are easily seen at the bottom, there is a clear- 

 ness either in the air or water that hinders fish from stirring 

 freely ; you have then, perhaps, a better chance with worm 

 than anything else. Also, when leaves and other rubbish 

 come floating down, they frighten fish, and prevent their see- 

 ing the fly. The nearer the bottom you angle, of course these 

 impediments are less in the way. They are most troublesome 

 on a windy day. When foam is thick upon the water, fish 

 rise badly to fly. A succession of floods, or, as we call them, 

 " spates," will gorge the fish, and make them shy, especially of 

 taking bait. In landing a salmon or any heavy fish in a river, 

 if possible get below him. You are thus favoured by the stream. 

 Whereas, by standing above, you hang the fish's weight against 

 the current, and are more apt to strain and break its hold. 



I shall here add an instance or two of the fastidiousness of 

 salmon at one time, and their voracity at another ; by which 

 it will be evident that there are days when a very bungler 

 may capture them, and others when all our skill is well needed. 

 In summer, when the Teith was rather dwindled, a Highlander 

 rose a grilse with a small sea-trout fly. He, of course, gave 

 him a rest, and tried him with a larger, to no effect ; went 

 back to the small one, and again rose him. He then put on, 

 in succession, a worm, a parr, and a minnow, without getting 

 a tug ; and, as a last resource, cut off the parr's tail, 1 when 



1 The parr-tail is an excellent substitute for the minnow, and in some moods 



