94 PRACTICAL LESSONS IN RIVER ANGLING. 



better. The mouth should be stitched up, unless the 

 minnow should be so hooked as to close the mouth, 

 which may be done by first putting the hook in at the 

 lower side of the under chap, and also quite through 

 the upper chap, then drawing it two or three inches on 

 the line, and again putting the hook into the mouth 

 and bring it out near the tail. It ought then to be 

 tried by drawing it across the water, and if it do not 

 turn well, the tail may be bent to the right or left till 

 it is right. 



The minnow is chiefly used when the water is be- 

 ginning to clear after a flood, or while it is rising, and 

 a swift stream is best for giving the minnow a natural 

 motion. It is necessary to have a swivel or two on the 

 line, to make the minnow play easily and to prevent the 

 line from twisting. The line is to be drawn pretty 

 rapidly up the stream, and near the surface. A reel 

 will be indispensable to let the fish run out when he 

 has taken the bait; for he will seldom be caught if 

 struck when he first bites. 



