COLOUK OF TROLLING-HOOKS. 139 



answer its size to be proportioned to the bait : 

 small for the minnow, large for the gudgeon, and 

 still larger for the dace or deep-breasted roach ; 

 and you must insert it by the root of the back 

 fin, on the side of it towards the shoulder, between 

 the skin and the flesh. Some insert the hook 

 through the lips ; but I do not fancy that way, as 

 it impedes the motions of the bait, and speedily 

 exhausts its vitality. When the bait is hooked on 

 near the fin, it would be advisable to penetrate a 

 slight portion of the flesh with the hook, to prevent 

 the bait escaping by its own efforts, or to be 

 snatched off with impunity by hasty pike or perch. 

 Hooks used in trolling should not be coloured 

 blue ; they should be allowed to remain bright, 

 like steel as they are. They should be whipped 

 on the hook with white silk, the wax used being 

 of the same colour. 



In sinking and roving, allow your bait to swim 

 here and there, generally at mid-water, but in 

 deep places, deeper, drawing it up gently to the 

 surface now and then, letting it sink again, and 

 guiding it to the best-looking spots of the locality. 

 Your float will soon inform you of a run, and you 

 must strike pretty promptly, unless when the run 

 is that of a pike. Then you must allow the pike 

 to swim away with the bait, and pouch it before 

 you strike. From five to seven minutes is the 

 pouching time allowed by me, and I find it quite 



