AND HOW TO USE IT. 57 



The tyro must remember, that the spinning 

 or twirling of the minnow in the water, so as to 

 make it attractive to the fish he desires to 

 catch, is the chief accomplishment in this 

 branch of the art of using the fishing-rod. 



When gracefully spun the fish are sure to be 

 allured towards it ; and then, thinking it a de- 

 licious little morsel, which is endeavouring to 

 escape being swallowed alive, the greedy fish 

 darts at, and seizes the deceptive bait, and 

 generally hooks itself at the first grasp. Work 

 the minnow against the stream, now and 

 then drawing it across by gentle pulls of a 

 yard or two at a time ; keep your eye on the 

 minnow as much as you can, now drawing 

 it gently to the surface, when spinning for 

 trout, and then letting it steadily sink a foot 

 or two, keeping the point of your rod down 

 within a few feet of the surface of the water. 



When spinning for perch or jack, the bait 

 must be more heavily leaded than for trout ; 

 and the minnow must be spun deeper, drop- 

 ped into holes, and other the deepest parts 

 of the water, drawing it about so as to spin it 

 as briskly as may be. 



If you are fishing wide waters, and desire 



