LOCH-FISHING. 413 



pound to three pounds weight, then he may count the pike 

 his enemy ; but the latter feat will both better prove his skill 

 and afford him much greater sport. He who wishes to excel 

 in angling will leave the loch with its tiny multitude to the 

 bungler, and select the other, where all his science will be 

 called into play. 



The reason why yellow trout are always large where there 

 are pike is obvious : the small fry are all devoured by the 

 latter, and the others, having more food, increase in size. A 

 few years ago, Loch Katrine was chock-full of very small 

 trout, which have gradually become larger since pike have 

 been introduced ; and now two or three dozen fine red trout 

 may be taken in a day. 



There are two other small lochs near Loch Katrine which 

 breed very large pike, and are full of prime trout Loch Arklet 

 and Loch Drunkie but they are less fortunate than their 

 neighbours in not having been immortalised by our great 

 Minstrel. The latter especially, from its ill-sounding name, 

 we cannot wonder that a poet discards ; but an angler will 

 realise its attractions. The shores of these lochs being almost 

 clear of weeds, and the ground firm, the best parts may be 

 reached by wading, and fish may be taken from half-a-pound 

 to three pounds weight. Upon one occasion, when playing a 

 good-sized trout in Loch Drunkie, an enormous pike made 

 several dashes, and at last succeeded in seizing it. I used 

 every effort to frighten him away ; but so determined was he, 

 that, though I could see him quite plainly in shallow water, 

 with my trout held across his tremendous jaws, he would not 

 be beat off; and at last, when kicking the water I strained 

 my line, he gave a plunge, broke my rod, and escaped with 

 his prey. 



FLY-FISHING. 



The flies I have generally found best for loch-fishing are a 

 light-speckled or brown-mottled mallard-wing, according to 



