WORM AND MINNOW FISHING 81 



4. Spinning or fishing the minnow : Outfit. 



Turning from worm to minnow, we come 

 to an exciting branch of the trout fisherman's 

 art. Although occasionally very heavy fish 

 are taken on the fly, it is seldom that a real 

 " specimen " trout falls to that lure. Using 

 the minnow on the other hand, the angler 

 frequently strikes some of the " whoppers " 

 inhabiting both lake and stream. Fishing 

 the minnow on a river is known as Spinning. 



It can be practised with a stiff fly-rod, if 

 the latter is only used occasionally, but the 

 angler who employs this method frequently 

 will be well advised to use a special weapon. 

 At one time, long double-handed rods were 

 used for spinning, and the angler cast his 

 bait into flooded waters, when the stream 

 was beginning to fine down from its initial 

 rush. Since those days, however, great 

 improvements have been made in rods and 

 tackle ; and we owe a good deal to American 

 anglers and manufacturers for their enthu- 

 siasm in perfecting the short rod for up-to- 

 date bait-casting or spinning. For trout 

 spinning an 8J-foot casting rod is a useful 

 size. Such rods decrease in length as they 

 increase in strength. A rod suitable for 

 salmon or pike may even run from 5 feet to 

 7 feet. When in Canada I had one or two 



