ADVANTAGES OF TROLLING. 135 



CHAPTER VII. 



TROLLING. RODS, LINES, TACKLE, AND BAITS, AND 

 METHODS OF USING THEM. 



IN ENGLAND proper trolling is practised to per- 

 fection. It is somewhat depreciated, because as 

 yet not well and generally understood, in Ireland, 

 Scotland, and Wales. In those countries fly- 

 fishing is everything, and in them it is certainly 

 better and more generally practised than in Eng- 

 land. The English, however, are rapidly becoming 

 good fly-fishers. Let me hope that the Irish, Scotch, 

 and Welch are as rapidly growing good trollers 

 and spinners. If they follow my instructions they 

 have nothing to fear, and will find that trolling 

 is occasionally productive of average angling plea- 

 sure. When neither fty-fishing nor bottom-fishing 

 can be practised, in consequence of certain for- 

 bidding circumstances of water and season, trolling 

 can be resorted to as a first-rate substitute. The 

 largest-sized river-fish are killed by trolling, and 

 I have no doubt that this mode of angling would 

 prove very successful in the sea. A knowledge 

 of it must be a great resource to the angler who 

 visits foreign climes, and there dwells by large 

 rivers and wide lakes. Numerous letters addressed 



