THE TAY 285 



Wall, Meadow Run, the Tree, Island Run, Roro Bridge, and the Barn, 

 all of which except the last can be fished dry-shod. The Barn is 

 the best of the lot, but in high water, wading stockings are wanted, 

 and it has to be cast from the south side. Salmon run pretty 

 quickly through this and the waters below, so consequently the 

 take is never a heavy one, and from ten to fifteen in the season 

 is about the usual thing. 



Next comes the Chesthill reach of some six miles, mostly on both 

 banks, followed on the north or left bank by the late Sir Donald 

 Currie's Garth Castle water, two miles in length, with eight good 

 pools, of which the pick are the Castle, the Rocky, and John Roy's ; 

 and here the best time is from the opening day to the end of April, 

 during which period from ten to fifteen fish, averaging 18 lb., are 

 usually got, the favourite flies being Jock Scot, Blue Doctor, 

 Thunder and Lightning, and Dusty Miller, medium sizes ; whfle 

 the Phantom (No. 6 size), the natural minnow, and the prawn all 

 kill, though higher up and later in the year lures other than the fly 

 are of no use. 



Below the Garth Castle water The Estate permits the hotel 

 at Fortingall to fish the remaining four and a half miles of his 

 part of the Lyon, the charge for which is ten shillings a day for 

 each rod, and up to the end of April this reach often shows good 

 sport. 



From the top of the Garth march the angling of the right 

 bank belongs to Lord Breadalbane, and goes with the Duneaves 

 shootings. 



On all these fishings, wading stockings are desirable, though 

 not absolutely necessary. On the lower reaches a rod of eighteen 

 feet will be none too long, but for Innerwick and Meggernie a 

 sixteen-foot one will be ample, while for these reaches two flies only 

 will suffice, viz. Jock Scot for dark and big water, and the Meggernie 

 for a clear low river ; this latter lure was an invention of a keeper 

 there, and is dressed as follows : — • 



Tag. Silver twist. 



Tail. Topping. 



But. Black ostrich herl. 



Body. Silver tinsel ribbed with flat silver twist. 



Hackle. Black, put on at shoulder only, with fibres long 

 enough to reach to the but. 



Wing. Fibres of mallard, bustard, wood duck, and yellow, 

 blue, and red swan, jungle-cock cheeks. 



About a mfle and a half before the junction with the Tay, 

 Garth water ends on the north bank, and the Menzies estate 

 comes in at Keltney Burn and contmues down the Lyon until it 

 joins the Tay opposite Taymouth Castle deer park, with a good 

 pool at the junction, and from thence to the east march the 

 property runs for about a further five mfles. 



Below the junction comes the Pipers, opposite to Tirnie Island, 

 better for holding fish as the season advances. The next is the 



