126 SHOOTING AND SALMON FISHING 



eye, and then the metal is re-tempered by again being heated 

 to redness, and while still aglow it is dipped in oil or cold 

 water. 



To bait the tackle, pass the eye end of the needle into the 

 mouth of the minnow (previously killed by a finger flip on the 

 head), and out at the vent ; then hook on the gut loop (which 

 must be a whipped loop, not a knotted one) to which the hooks 

 are tied, and draw it carefully through till they are in position. 

 Should the needle catch in the minnow, twiddle it round 

 between the thumb and forefinger until it passes smoothly ; 

 then hold the bait firmly in the left hand, thread the lead on 

 to the gut, and press it well home, for if this be not done 

 thoroughly the minnow will not spin properly. Before the lead 

 is inserted in the bait, it should be slashed with a knife so as to 

 prevent it slipping out of its mouth. 



The gut between the two triangles should be doubled, as it 

 keeps them stiff after being in the water a long time, and so 

 hinders them from catching over the trace when casting. 



The minnow is par excellence a cloudy-day, cold-weather 

 bait, and unless the water is dirty bright sunshine is nearly fatal 

 to it, and fly or prawn would have a better chance. 



Our experience is that the minnow will kill well on all 

 rivers running into the sea on the East Coast of Scotland, 

 and that it is of no use on any river emptying itself into the 

 sea on the West Coast, where the worm with the phantom are 

 the best bait lures. 



It goes without saying that Brown's phantom will kill any- 

 where, and in highly coloured, nearly dirty water it is the best 

 bait of all. 



The natural minnow is usually cast directly across the 

 stream, but if the current is heavy it should be directed a 

 little upwards to ensure it sinking deep ; as it is carried round 

 by the stream, it should be drawn slowly in and out with a 

 sawing motion of the hand, but without any reeling up of the 

 line. As soon as it swings into a straight line with the point 



