232 SALMON FISHING IN THE TWEED 



liberal persons who wish to drive the salmon from 

 their own waters to those of their neighbours 

 above. 



What, alas ! becomes of the beautiful wielding 

 of the rod, thrown (albeit heavy, and difficult to 

 manage) with a grace and dexterity that indicates 

 no exertion, the fly not falling like a four-and- 

 twenty-pounder, but just kissing the surface of the 

 water, and moving to and fro in a manner so 

 seducing as to beguile the most wary salmon of 

 every atom of prudence ! 



FISHING WITH BAIT, MINNOW, AND PARR'S TAIL 



When the water is too low for the fly, and quite 

 clear, then begins the bait or worm fishing in 

 Tweed. The tackle consists of a large hook at the 

 end of your line, and a smaller one above it, placed 

 like the lip-hook in minnow tackle. These are 

 threaded with worms. The manner of putting 

 them on will be better learnt from the fisherman 

 on the river side, than it can be explained in writing. 

 When the water is in right order, that is, low and 

 clear, as I have said above, and the weather fresh, 

 a clever fisherman may glean the river of almost 

 all the fish that are left in the streams. Tolerably 

 large shot being fixed towards the end of the line, 

 and the worms themselves being heavy, it requires 

 some dexterity to throw a good distance without 

 accidents. To obviate these, and to effect your 

 purpose, begin with a line of a moderate length, 

 and tuck out a few folds of the reel, holding them 

 fast with your hand when you bring your rod back, 



