^3° The salmon rivers of Scotland 



Grilse usually show about the middle of June, coming up with 

 the high tides due at about that time ; and with a fair water coming 

 down there should be a good run of them then, and again a fortnight 

 later, and more or less with each high tide, providing the river is 

 in order, until the end of July. 



During August and September a few fish run from the sea, 

 but most taken at that time are those that have settled in the 

 river, and from then until the close of the season their numbers 

 are increased, and the chances are better for getting heavy fish, 

 as many of the salmon that ran up into the loch early in May 

 and June have dropped back by this time into the river again. 



The casts on both sides of the river can easily be commanded 

 from the banks, so that waders are not required, while a sixteen-foot 

 rod will cover all the water. There is no restriction as to the gaff ; 

 both it and the landing net are used. Fly is the only lure permitted, 

 and dressed on Limerick hooks from i to 7 is about the range of 

 sizes required, according to the height and clearness of the water. 

 The patterns that kill best are Jock Scot, Sir Richard, Silver and 

 Blue Doctor, and several of more sombre dressing, of which the two 

 following are good : — 



No. I. — Tag. Gold twist 

 Tail. Small topping. 



Body. Two turns dirty brown seal's fur, remainder black ditto ; 

 gold tinsel all the way up. 



Hackle. Black from half-way. 

 Wings. Two strips brown mottled turkey. 

 No. 2. — Tag. Silver twist and blue floss silk. 

 Tail. Topping and sprig of mallard wing. 

 Body. Black silver tinsel. 



Hackle. Black all the way up and jay at shoulder. 

 Wings. Brown mallard, blue macaw horns. 

 The darker flies answer better from August until the end of 

 the season. Double hooks are not much in favour, as they catch 

 and hold small weed more readily than single ones ; and much of 

 this weed comes dowTi after a spate. 



The bag-nets that intercept fish running to the Shiel are all 

 put out along the northern shore of Ardnamurchan, but none are 

 placed within two miles of the mouth of the river or at any point 

 within Loch Moidart. The river is a sluggish one, the only current 

 to speak of in medium and higher water being in the Sea Pool, Chff, 

 the Gullet, and from the Boat Pool to Piper's Cottage ; so that for 

 successful fishing wind is necessary, the stronger the better, and with 

 some north in it, blowing against the stream, is the best direction 

 to have it from. To make up for this lack of current, some move- 

 ment or " work " needs to be put into the fly when fishing the 

 sluggish pools. 



In its short length the river has no tributaries ; it is simply 

 the outlet for the waters gathered in Loch Shiel ; and being some- 

 what constricted at the Old Bridge and Gullet, from this point its 



