THE TROUT. 49 



There are numerous modes of baiting with the rrinnow; but 

 they all resemble each other so nearly, that a minute description of 

 each is quite unnecessary. Some trollers employ six or seven hooks, 

 and others only two or three. This is, in a great measure, a matter 

 of taste and fancy. As a general rule, however, it may safely be 

 determined, that in those rivers of Great Britain and Ireland which 

 run deep with a swift current, have a muddy, weedy bottom, and 

 whose sides are covered with brushwood, that kind of trolling- 

 tackle is the best which is the strongest, and mounts the greatest 

 number of hooks. It is only by jerking and holding the fish tight 

 by the head that it is possible to catch it ; for if you allow him to 

 run in such situations, he will soon smash your tackle to atoms. 

 But in fine clear streams, with gravelly and pebbly bottoms, fewer 

 hooks will answer better, inasmuch as deception is more effectively 

 preserved. 



Here t we find a radical difficulty in explaining, in writing, the 

 acquisition of a purely mechanical art. ( By once or twice looking 

 :at a good troller, the youthful angler will obtain more real insight 

 into this mode of trout-fishing than by perusing an entire volume 

 on the subject. All that a writer can do is to deal in general 

 description, and this always ^ falls far short of elucidating a matter 

 depending more upon artistic adroitness than upon abstract prin- 

 ciples. Old Izaak Walton's mode of trolling is thus stated: 

 " And then you are to know that your minnow must be put on 

 your hook, that it must turn round when it is drawn against the 

 stream ; and, that it may turn nimbly, you must put it on a big- 

 sized hook, as I shall now direct you, which is thus : put your 

 hook in at the mouth, and out at the gill ; then, having drawn your 

 hook two or three inches beyond a-through his gill, put it again 

 into his mouth, and^the point and beard out at the tail; and then 

 tie ^the hook and his tail about very neatly with a white thread, 

 which will make it the apter to turn quick in the water ; that done, 

 pull back that part of your line which was slack when you did put 

 your hook into the minnow the second time. I say pull that part 

 of your line back, so that it shall fasten the head, so that the body 

 of the minnow shall be almost straight on your hook ; this done, 

 try how it will ten by drawing it across the water, or against the 

 stream and if it do not turn nimbly, then turn the tail a little to 

 the right or left hand, and try again till it. turn quick, for, if not, 

 you are in danger to catch nothing ; for know, that it is impossible 

 that it should turn too quick." This was Walton's method, two 

 centuries and a half ago. 



The mode of baiting with minnow, and managing the rod and 

 line in trolling, follpwed in the North of England, and in most 

 parts of Scotland is substantially the following: A gilse hook 

 (No. 3 or 4), is placed at the end of the line, but wrapped firmly 

 and carefully on the end of the shank to make it secure, and to 

 leave as much room as possible to bait. At the distance of an 

 inch, or little more, from the shank end of the gilse hook, a strong 



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