SCOTCH LOCH FISHING. 151 



generally the best time for trolling, and I know nothing pleasanter 

 than rowing quietly along on a still June night. You can hear the 

 hum of voices from the inn, more than a mile away, and the regular 

 beat of the oars makes you drowsy. Suddenly the rod you are 

 holding is nearly jerked from your hand and the line rushes off the 

 reel. To pass the other rod to the boatman to wind up does not 

 take a second, and the fun begins. Eighty yards of line and an 

 ounce of lead won't stop the fish from jumping time after time ; 

 then the weight against him begins to tell. Gradually you get him 

 nearer and nearer, until he catches sight of you ; then off he goes 

 again, ending his rush with a grand somersault — fish and lead 

 falling back into the water with a splash which you think must * 

 shake the hooks from their hold. But the line tightens again, and 

 in a few more minutes you have drawn him up to the side of the 

 boat, where your gillie can use the gaff. 



Occasionally when trolling — especially if you are using coarse 

 tackle, or if it is a very, calm day — a fish will follow the bait for a 

 considerable distance, pulling gently at it every few yards, but 

 never taking hold. It is very exasperating, and you can do 

 nothing ; it is very seldom you will kill a fish of this sort. He 

 has probably been hooked before — at any rate he has seen some- 

 thing to arouse his suspicions, and eventually he will leave the bait. 

 In trolling, a good gillie, who knows the Loch thoroughly, is an 

 immense advantage. He will know exactly how near he can go to 

 certain points without getting the baits fast in the bottom. 



In whatever Loch large troufare found, there are always certain 

 points and bays which they frequent in preference to others. 

 These should be tried several times over, either nearer or further 

 from the shore each time. On rough days ferox retire to the 



