168 THE MINNOW SPINNING-ROD. 



bait, between the vent and the mouth, and I 

 finally fix this gut-link that contains the bait thus 

 armed to my swivel -trace. I have now a bait 

 that swims well, with a double hook projecting on 

 each side beneath the middle part of it ; and as fish 

 generally seize their prey by the middle, I do not 

 see why you should not seize them with this double 

 hook, if they once admit it within their mouths. 

 However, as fish very often run short at the 

 spinning-bait, and as, when they do, you cannot 

 hook them by means of one double hook only at 

 the vent, add a double fly-hook to lie along the 

 bait towards the tail, and a little beyond it. I 

 advise my young friends to use this latter tackle 

 when they begin practising the art of spinning ; 

 they will find it very efficient, and it is very 

 easily baited. 



I have mentioned the trolling and spinning 

 rods best suited, in my opinion, for angling for 

 large fish. We should have an especial rod for 

 minnow-spinning. It should not be so stout by 

 any means as the usual trolling-rods, but it 

 should be longer : fourteen feet is a fair average 

 length. I would have this rod made of the best 

 mottled cane in all its joints, except the top one, 

 which should be of a good stiffish bit of hickory, 

 or solid bamboo, tipped with a couple of inches of 

 light whalebone. This rod should be ringed with 

 moderately-sized upright rings, and will answer, if 



