LAKE FISHING 47 



Supposing that the lake, or reservoir, or loch, is one 

 of sufficient size to allow of a boat being used, the 

 first matter to be attended to is that of procuring the 

 services of a boatman who knows thoroughly where 

 the fish are in the habit of feeding, and who also can 

 be depended on to manage a boat properly. This is 

 not so easy as it sounds. Many a man can row a 

 boat well enough under ordinary circumstances, who 

 makes a mess of the business when out with a fisher- 

 man. 



The boat should be taken to the ' up ' wind end 

 of the lake, and should then be allowed to drift very 

 slowly, stern first, over the most likely spots, the boat- 

 man meanwhile pulling very gently against the wind, 

 taking care the craft does not move too quickly. 

 The fisherman stands or sits in the stern, and casts 

 therefrom. Should the oarsman be inexperienced or 

 careless, he will allow the boat to drift too rapidly, and 

 will by this means prevent the water from being properly 

 and carefully fished ; or he may splash unduly with his 

 oars, and cause unnecessary and unwelcome disturb- 

 ance, thereby scaring away the fish. A man who 

 knows his business well will let the boat float almost 

 imperceptibly in the required direction, guiding it so 

 that all likely ripples, the favourite feeding-grounds, 

 every inch of water wherein it is probable a trout may 



