428 MANUAL FOR YOUNG SPORTSMEN. 



night, the trimmers may be set as for pickerel, or the night- 

 line as described above. 



BOTTOM FISHING FOR COMMON TROUT, LAKE TROUT, 

 AND SEA TROUT. 



The bottom-rod for trouting should be at least 17 feet 

 long, and should be, in fact, similar to that described above 

 as the trolling-rod for pickerel. An ordinary trouting- 

 reel and reel line are sufficient for the purpose ; and the 

 casting line should have six lengths of good single gut, 

 slightly stained with brown or brownish green by means 

 of common black or green tea. No silk should be used at 

 the knots, but the simple angler's knot should be employed. 

 The hook for trout best adapted for the worm is No. 3 or 

 4, and for the minnow, according to the kind of fishing 

 adopted. When the hook is intended for the worm, it 

 ought to be whipped on to the gut with crimson silk, as the 

 dark silk usually employed alters the color of the trans- 

 parent worm, and deters the trout from taking the bait. 

 Shot, or lead in some form, is required, in order to sink 

 the bait, and its weight should depend upon the strength 

 of the current. Swan-shot answers best for this purpose, 

 and, more or less, must be applied at the discretion of the 

 angler, when by the water-side he ascertains the rate of 

 the current. A float will sometimes, though not always, 

 be needful, and may be either of cork or swan-quill, the 

 latter being to be preferred. The hooks for spinning- 

 tackle are similar to those described at page 390, and the 

 gorge-hook will be found treated of at page 392. 



