singing the praises of our Queen of Scottish Lakes, LOCH LOMOND. The
scenery of this beautiful spot is well known in some ways, but no amount
of travelling in a steamer will reveal its beauties. To the tourist we
would say, take a small boat at Luss and engage a man to row you among
the islands which lie between Luss and Balmaha. With this hint to the
tourist, we leave him, and turn the angler's attention to the
sport--very precarious at most times, but excellent at others--to be had
on Loch Lomond. Luss is the angling centre, and there are capital boats
and men to be had by writing beforehand to the hotel-keeper, Mr M'Nab,
who deserves much credit for the attention he pays to the wants of
anglers.
The yellow-trout fishing is good, but, strange to say, this class of
sport is not much sought after. In April and May as good trout-fishing
is to be had as on some other lochs that enjoy a greater reputation. But
if the weather has been at all favourable to the fish running, the month
of June sees the sea-trout fishing fairly commenced. It is a hard loch
to fish; and if you are lucky enough to get two or three sea-trout in a
day, consider yourself fortunate. They are a good average--2 lb. to 3
lb. being quite common--but they spread themselves so much over a large
portion of water that one may fish a whole day and not come across them.
This, however, is the exception, as in an ordinary fair fishing day in
June, July, August, and September, and even October if the weather is
mild, they are almost certain to be seen, if not caught. Some days
really good sport is to be had--indeed, one is surprised at the show of
fish; but fish or no fish, the charm of Loch Lomond is everlasting. The
angler finds his way back over and over again, till, as in our own
experience, the islands of Lonaig, Moan, Cruin, Fad, and last and least,
Darroch, the great landing-spot, are as familiar to him as his daily
business haunts. Then the chances of a salmon are good--indeed, this
year (1881) a great many have been killed; but somehow or another the
sea-trout fishing has not been so good, and though a salmon is always a
salmon, we would rather see a good show of sea-trout at any time. Like
our neighbours, we have had good and bad days on Loch Lomond; but
disappointment has never soured us--indeed, the fascination seems to get
stronger. And it is so very convenient for a day's fishing--down in the
morning and home at night, with a good long day between
|