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SCOTCH LOCH-FISHING
BY
"BLACK PALMER"
WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS
EDINBURGH AND LONDON
MDCCCLXXXII
_All Rights reserved_
DEDICATED
TO THE
MEMBERS OF THE WESTERN ANGLING CLUB GLASGOW
IN REMEMBRANCE OF MANY HAPPY DAYS
SPENT IN THEIR COMPANY
PREFACE.
The Author of this very practical treatise on Scotch Loch-Fishing
desires chiefly that it may be of use to all who read it. He does not
pretend to have written anything new, but to have attempted to put what
he has to say in as readable a form as possible. Everything in the way
of the history and habits of fish has been studiously avoided, and
technicalities have been used as sparingly as possible. The writing of
this book has afforded him much pleasure in his leisure moments, and
that pleasure would be much increased if he knew that the perusal of it
would create any bond of sympathy between himself and the angling
community in general. This edition is interleaved with blank sheets for
the reader's notes. The Author need hardly say that any suggestions
addressed to the care of the publishers, will meet with consideration in
a future edition.
GLASGOW, _March 1882_.
CONTENTS.
CHAP. PAGE
I. INTRODUCTORY, 1
II. EQUIPMENT, 5
III. TACKLE AND ACCESSORIES, 7
IV. FLIES AND CASTING-LINES, 13
V. TROLLING-TACKLE AND LURES, 21
VI. DUTIES OF BOATMAN, 27
VII. ETIQUETTE OF LOCH-FISHING, 33
VIII. CASTING AND STRIKING, 37
IX. TROLLING, 42
X. CAPTURE OF FISH, 48
XI. AFTER A DAY'S FISHING, 60
XII. REMINISCENCES, 65
XIII. CONCLUSION, 80
SCOTCH LOCH-FISHING.
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY.
We do not pretend to write or enlarge upon a new subject. Much has been
said and written--and well said and written too--on the art of fishing;
but loch-fishing _per se_ has been rather looked upon as a second-rate
performance, and to dispel this idea is one of the objects for which
this present treatise has been written. Far be it from us to say
anything against fishing, lawfully practised in any form; but many pent
up in our large towns will bear us out when we say that, on the whole,
a day's loch-fishing is the most convenient. One great matter is, that
the loch-fisher is dependent on nothing but enough wind to "curl" the
water,--and on a large loch it is very seldom that a dead calm prevails
all day,--and can make his arrangements for a day, weeks beforehand;
whereas the stream-fisher is dependent for a good take on the state of
the water: and however pleasant and easy it may be for one living near
the banks of a good trout stream or river, it is quite another matter to
arrange for a day's river-fishing, if one is looking forward to a
holiday at a date some weeks ahead. Providence may favour the expectant
angler with a "good" day, and the water in order; but experience has
taught most of us that the "good" days are in the minority, and that, as
is the case with our rapid running streams,--such as many of our
northern streams are,--the water is either too large or too small,
unless, as previously remarked, you live near at hand, and can catch it
at its best.
A common belief in regard to loch-fishing is, that the tyro and the
experienced angler have nearly the same chance in fishing,--the one from
the stern and the other from the bow of the same boat. Of all the
absurd beliefs as to loch-fishing, this is one of the most absurd. Try
it. Give the tyro either end of the boat he likes; give him a cast of
any flies he may fancy, or even a cast similar to those which a "crack"
may be using; and if he catches one for every three the other has, he
may consider himself very lucky. Of course there are lochs where the
fish are not abundant, and a beginner may come across as many as an
older fisher; but we speak of lochs where there are fish to be caught,
and where each has a fair chance.
Again, it is said that the boatman has as much to do with catching trout
in a loch as the angler. Well, we don't deny that. In an untried loch it
is necessary to have the guidance of a good boatman; but the same
argument holds good as to stream-fishing. There are "pools and pools,"
and the experienced loch-fisher can "spot" a bay or promontory, where
trout are likely to be lying, with as much certainty as his brother
angler can calculate on the lie of fish in a stream. Then there are
objections to loch-fishing on the score of expense. These we are not
prepared to refute; for there is no doubt whatever that loch-fishing
means money. But what has made it so? The same reason that makes all
other things of more or less value--the common law of supply and demand.
Time was, and that not so long ago, when a boatman who used to get 3s.,
or at most 4s. a-day, now gets his 5s. or 6s., and even at the latter
figure does not think himself too well paid. In the extreme north,
however, it is still possible to get a good man for 3s. a-day; and we
know of nothing more enjoyable than a fortnight's loch-fishing amidst
magnificent scenery in some of our northern counties. The expense of
getting there will always be a serious matter; but once there, the
fishing in itself is not dear. The boat is usually got for nothing; the
right of fishing, so far at least as trout are concerned, is free; and
the man's wage and lunch are decidedly cheap. But for a single day on
some of our nearer lochs,--such as Loch Leven, Loch Ard, or Loch
Lomond,--the expenses _are_ heavy, and the angler must always be the
best judge as to the likelihood of the "game being worth the candle."