14 TROUT FISHING 



a fly which is being pulled through the 

 water ; but artificial motion causes them as 

 a rule to remain suspiciously aloof. This 

 explains why one so often has a rise when 

 "not looking." Even the most careful 

 angler, if the trout are rising so badly as 

 to make him anxious, imparts, in his 

 eagerness, some little action to the flies ; 

 but when he is "not looking" his arm 

 and his hand are motionless, the flies seem 

 natural, and a fish takes the risk. The 

 same theory is applicable to an experience 

 which must be common to many an 

 angler who has visited Lochleven. You 

 cast for an hour without having a rise, 

 and, handing your rod to the boatman, 

 begin to rest. Your pipe is hardly aglow 

 before the boatman is fast in a lusty 

 trout ! This is simply because he has let 

 the flies lie a few seconds where they 

 fell. The boatmen on that interesting 

 water are as a rule clumsy anglers ; but 

 somehow or other all of them with whom 

 I am acquainted are free from the error 

 which, with an exaggeration peculiarly 



