MINNOW-FISHING 109 



speaking, the spots to be searched are from the 

 opposite edges of stickles or eddies, near rocks, 

 old tree-roots, under shelving banks, at sluices, or 

 millraces; in short, wherever there is enough 

 current to help spin the bait. It is also as well 

 to try a few casts in the quieter haunts. In 

 rapid water work the minnow slowly, in slow 

 water move it fairly fast. If you can detect a 

 trout following your minnow, pull it away from 

 him suddenly, when in all probability, fearing it 

 may escape, he will pounce on it. But in very 

 low, clear water casting upstream is, on the whole, 

 I think, a better method and less likely to reveal 

 the angler's presence. The minnow is pulled 

 downstream in slow, darting jerks as of a sick 

 fish trying to swim with the current. 



And now there is another phase of minnow- 

 fishing to which I would particularly draw the 

 attention of the brook-fisher, one which has 

 nothing to do with spinning ; and, provided he is 

 extra cautious in his approaches, there is no more 

 fatal way of using this lure when the water is at 

 low summer level. The trace, without either 

 swivel or sinker, must be fine, say of tapered 

 refinucha gut, which is much stronger than 

 drawn. Baits should not exceed i| in. in length, 

 and may be even smaller. Only one hook is 



