370 THE MOOR AND THE LOCH. 



low trout were powerful rivals in spring, but they were only 

 attainable with lait in autumn, when the reign of the white 

 trout with fly began. 



As I had opportunity, I tried a cast for grilse or salmon ; 

 but my knowledge of the habits of fish and my practice being 

 alike limited, the rises were of course few and far between, so 

 I always turned with increased zest to the fat yellow trout in 

 May, or the silvery sea ones in September. It was not until 

 I was thoroughly acquainted with the nature of fish, and had 

 acquired perfect command of the salmon-rod, that the intense 

 excitement of hooking a 20 -pounder tamed down my interest 

 for all minor angling. 



With the exception of boat-fishing in strictly preserved 

 rivers, angling for large fish, in order to reach the deep pools 

 and heavy streams where they lie, requires a length of line 

 which few can ever attain to throw. But when the river- 

 banks are at the same time encumbered by trees or other 

 obstacles, the rods who can fish it well become select indeed. 

 Of course the rises decrease in proportion to the want of 

 power in reaching the casts ; and the angler, however expert 

 with a small rod and fly, loses confidence when he looks over 

 his shoulder and sees a salmon struggling at his neighbour's 

 line, hooked in the very pool he was unable a few minutes 

 before to cast over. With the loss of confidence his patience 

 also deserts him, and he returns to yellow trout, a stanch 

 stickler for the theory that trouting is the most scientific of 

 all fishing. But if a man has thorough mastery of a large 

 rod, and quite comprehends the ways of the noble fish he is 

 trying for also the various moods of water, sky, air, time of 

 day, &c., when the monster may be most successfully lured 

 the crowning requisite, patience, always comes of its own 

 accord. 



In ordinary rivers the most expert angler well knows that 

 he must not expect many rises of big fish ; he therefore uses 

 all his skill and experience to hook those he does move. This 



