ANGLING FOR TROUT 93 



Minnow-faking for Trout. 



This is perhaps a still more active, though not so 

 lively a sport as fly-fishing. The rod required must 

 be stouter and stiffer, and the line about the length of 

 the rod, and stronger than for fly-fishing, with a strong 

 silk-worm gut next the hook, which may be No. 2 to 

 No. 4, according to the size of trout expected to be 

 caught, and these are generally of the largest size. 

 Sometimes two hooks are used, one as small as No. 12, 

 placed back to back, with lead shot on the line, and a 

 lead cap for the bait, as may be seen in the figure. 



Minnow hook baited. 



Artificial minnows, made with mother of pearl, may 

 be bought at the fish tackle shops ; but the best is the 

 fresh minnow 1 , which may be caught with the hook 

 No. 13, baited with a small red worm, or caddis 

 worm, or with a net; or by embaying a shoal of 

 them in a small pond, as is often done by boys for 

 amusement. When the minnow is put on the hook, 

 the belly fin of one side, and the breast fin of the 

 opposite side, ought to be cut off, to make it play better 

 in the water. The minnow should have the hook 

 entered by the mouth and pointing out at the vent, 

 so as to keep the tail a little bent, which makes it play 



(1) In Latin, Leuciscus Phoxinus. 



