LOCH-FISHING. 415 



When there is a fine even breeze, immediately repair to 

 the loch. Begin to fish those parts where the wind blows 

 fairest from the shore ; if you know the loch well, you have a 

 great advantage. The trout have many feeding-places, and 

 shift from one to another with the slightest change of the 

 wind. Near some one of these they generally keep watching 

 the breeze, which blows them flies and insects. They are 

 usually in companies so when the angler hooks one, he should 

 endeavour to get it away from the rest ; he will then most 

 likely rise another the next throw or two. He must keep a 

 very sharp look-out for these places, and may generally detect 

 them by the rising of the trout. They sometimes, but not 

 so often, feed singly. 



When a fish takes the fly, raise your arm with a sort of 

 indescribable turn of the wrist : if this is done with a jerk, the 

 fly is whipped away from the trout ; but if omitted altogether, 

 it will often make its escape, after feeling the hook. It is for 

 want of knack in this particular that so many trout are lost 

 after having risen to the fly. When you hook a good fish 

 that never shows above water, but swims low with a dead 

 heavy pull, be very cautious ; it is most likely tenderly 

 hooked, and, with the least strain upon the line, will break 

 away. 



The shore, in many parts of the lochs, is fringed with 

 weeds, beyond which you may cast by wading. Should you 

 hook a trout in such a situation, and not find an opening to 

 lead it through, use every endeavour to keep it from the 

 weeds : and when quite tired out, raise its head above water, 

 and tow it rapidly over them. If you can reach beyond the 

 weeds with your landing-net, the difficulty in a great measure 

 ceases. 



When salmon or trout spring out of the water, you may be 

 sure that neither will be so apt to rise to your fly, whether in 

 lochs or rivers. 



