356 THE MOOE AND THE LOCH. 



times throwing it clear of the overhanging rocks with such un- 

 erring aim as rarely to break a hook. 



Any one having both fishing knowledge and manual skill 

 (for some reputed good anglers possess only one of these gifts), 

 is seldom tried in his patience, because he is able to make use 

 of his fishing time, not wasting it on the water as inexperienced 

 anglers are apt to do, when success is more than doubtful. 

 Of course, there are many men of little leisure, who generally 

 need the services of some local " regular," to whose guidance 

 they trust implicitly. Such fishers are not likely to gain 

 self-confidence, or ever to become scientific craftsmen. 



A salmon-fisher, to be self-reliant, ought to require no more 

 than to know the February flies of any river he means to fish 

 from the first to the last of a season. He will know how to 

 change both size and colours of fly to suit not only the vary- 

 ing moods of the water, but also the advancing year. Upon 

 comparing the enormous hook of the opening month with the 

 tiny fly required for the clear water of June or July, such 

 fishing prescience may appear marvellous to the uninitiated ; 

 but, like other changes, it has been so gradual, that the fisher 

 himself scarcely perceives how it came about. Had he dropped 

 his rod for a couple of months, he might have had diffi- 

 culty in picking up the fly again, and most likely, to save 

 time, would have resorted to one of the fishermen of the dis- 

 trict for a fresh start. I speak from experience ; for having 

 rented five miles of northern Dee for three years as difficult 

 a river to fish as any in Scotland I never required more than 

 to know the opening fly of the season, or when I came later, 

 the fly then in use. In 1855, without any other advice or 

 assistance than this, I landed fifty-five salmon from the 6th of 

 March till the 15th of May, but then I had a splendid assort- 

 ment of feathers and tackle, and tied flies to suit myself every 

 morning. 



