66 The North Country Angler. 



it does not smell something like the natural bait, 

 will not take it, though well imitated. 



CHAP. XX. 



Of Angling with Minnow. 



ITH this bait the angler may take the best 

 trouts in a stream, if he knows when and how to 

 fish with it. I shall tell you the several ways 

 that are commonly used by our best anglers, and 

 then my own method ; that the angler may try 

 and choose which he likes best. Mr. Walton 

 directs to bait thus : 



" Take a middle-sized, bright minnow, put 

 your hook in at its mouth, and out at its gill, 

 then having drawn the hook two or three inches 

 through the gill, put it again into his mouth, and 

 the point and beard out at his tail; then tie the 

 hook and his tail together neatly with a white 

 thread, which will make it turn quick in the 

 water. Then pull back that part of the line 

 which was slack, when the hook was put into 

 the minnow's mouth the second time, which 

 will fasten the head, and the minnow will be 

 almost streight on the hook. This done, try how 

 it will turn by drawing it across the water, or 

 against the stream; and if it does not turn quick 

 enough, then turn the tail a little to the right 

 or left hand and try it again, till it turns fast 

 enough." 



