50 MINNOW-FISHING. 



seem to go minnow-hunting in the afternoon and 

 late at night. The best hours are, however, at 

 daybreak and nightfall, as these are the times 

 when predatory animals of all sorts sally forth. 



The time of year best for minnow is from 

 June till the end of August, but a few fish may 

 be taken with it at all times of the year, winter 

 certainly not excepted. 



Now for the application. 



Fish on the lookout for minnows have a way 

 of lying in wait in spots suited for their conceal- 

 ment, near shallows which their prey frequent ; 

 and thence rushing out and hunting down any 

 unfortunate that seems at all disabled. It is, of 

 course, impossible to mention all such places, but 

 the likeliest of all are sudden depressions in the 

 channel, the edges of deep eddies, the sides of 

 large stones, tufts of grass and overhanging 

 banks, and last, but not least, the roots of any 

 tree that are washed by the current, or spaces 

 amidst weeds. 



These are good at all times, but in a porter- 

 coloured water there is hardly a spot in any 

 river fit to hold a trout where you may not spin 

 successfully. 



Now as to the method of spinning. Select a 

 proper bait the best are from l to 2| inches 

 long plump and clear (dark- coloured baits are 

 little use) : enter the large hook of the tackle, 



