LOCH-FISHING 75 



yards bc)-oncl the weed)- beds, and I foolishl)- 

 thought I would try for them. Now, you cannot 

 overestimate the difficulty of casting a fly across 

 yarcis of ^x-ater-lilics. You catch in the weeds as 

 }-ou lift your line for a fresh cast, and then 3'ou 

 ha\-e to extricate it laboriously, shortening line, 

 and then to let it out again, and probably come to 

 grief once more. 



I saw a trout rise, with a huge sullen circle 

 dimpling round him, cast o\'cr him, raised him, 

 and missed him. The water was perfectl}' still, 

 and the ' plop ' made by these fish was very exciting 

 and tantalising. The next that rose took the 

 alder, and, of course, ran right into tlic broad 

 band of lilies. I tried all the dodges I could think 

 of, and all that Mr. Halford suggests. I dragged 

 at him hard. I gave him line. I sat down and 

 endeavoured to disengage my thoughts, but I ne\-er 

 got a glimpse of him, and finally had to wade as 

 far in as I dared, and sa\'e as much of the casting 

 line as I could ; it was \'ery little. 



There \\-as one thing to be said for the trout 

 on this side : the}.' meant business. They did not 



