MINNOW- FISHING. 5 1 



either at the mouth or gills of the bait we pre- 

 fer the former if we have a long-shanked hook, 

 the latter if a short-shanked one impale it till 

 the point comes out near the tail, thus imparting 

 the curve of the hook to the tail of the bait ; pass 

 the lip-hook through both lips, and there you 

 are ! A little care in this will be well repaid, as 

 the main difficulty lies in getting the bend. 



Now carefully approach the stream, and swing 

 your bait first almost across the current, aiming 

 it at a point a little above the water, thus allow- 

 ing it to hang in the air a little before it 

 descends ; then, letting it sink slightly, draw the 

 bait by a succession of pulls, with occasional 

 pauses, slowly in a fast current, more quickly in 

 a gentle one, lut never rapidly, across and against 

 the current, so that the minnow may spin in a 

 curve athwart the stream. As your bait passes 

 any likely spot you may expect a rush at it ; but 

 if not, never mind, simply go on spinning more 

 and more carefully as it approaches the side, and 

 then edge your minnow, searching thoroughly the 

 shore, for we do not think we exaggerate in say- 

 ing that two out of every three good trout taken 

 by minnow seize the lure close to the side. When 

 a fish takes the bait your strike must be firm and 

 slow ; in fact rather a continued strain than a 

 jerk. 



The great secret of success is to aim at imitat- 



