380 THE MOOR AND THE LOCH. 



day calmer. Should the rod across the boat hook a fish, in- 

 stantly throw the other to the boatman next you, who may 

 wind it up out of your way, his comrade guiding the boat 

 with both oars. If the fish is large, he will most likely strike 

 away from the boat, and your first effort should be to shorten 

 your line by backing water. Whenever the fish is under 

 command of a short line, and you can persuade him to follow 

 the boat, land and kill him from shore. 



While sitting in the stern, be always on the look-out for 

 weeds, and give the alarm. Your boatman will immediately 

 turn rapidly into the deep ; and you, raising a rod in each 

 hand as high as possible, should make every effort to keep 

 the baits near the surface. If this is done cleverly, it may pre- 

 vent that major misery of boat-trolling, a double fast. If for- 

 tunate enough to get clear, it may be as well to examine the 

 baits ; indeed this should be done at intervals throughout the 

 day, as a small green weed attached to the bait will prevent 

 it from spinning, or, at all events, act as a damper to the 

 trout. Fish always for such shy customers with a very long 

 line, especially if there is little wind to curl the water. 

 Where the shores are level, the depth is generally gradual ; 

 therefore try the good places at various depths, as your own 

 judgment may suggest. But should the rock or mountain 

 rise abruptly from the margin, the water almost always 

 deepens suddenly within a short distance of the shore. Once 

 going over is quite enough if you keep between the shallow 

 and the deep, which only occupies a few yards. When sky 

 and water are dull, a large bright bait, such as a salmon- 

 smelt, is very good ; but if the loch is clear and low, bait one 

 rod with a parr instead of a burn-trout, the ordinary bait. 



Never find fault with your boatmen, when the hooks stick 

 fast, for taking you into too shallow water. If you do, they 

 will most likely prevent this annoyance, by keeping too deep 

 for any fish to see your bait. Most fishing-guides are too apt, 

 at any rate, to err this way, to save themselves trouble, as 



