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CHAPTER XI. 

 TROUT SPINNING AND TROLLING. 



FROM the scientific method of 

 capturing trout with a fly we pass 

 to the less artistic system of 

 spinning and trolling. The art 

 is more easily acquired, although, 

 like fly-fishing, it has its special 

 difficulties. Less store is set 

 upon spinning, because it is a 

 form of angling that hampers the 

 movement of the fish, and conse- 

 quently prevents it from giving 

 so much sport to the angler. As 

 a method it is most deadly, only 

 a small proportion of fish escaping 

 that are hooked on the tackle. 

 This in itself is not sufficient for 

 thinking any the less of it. The 

 reason must be sought in the fact 

 that fish that might be taken with 

 the fly, sooner or later, are fre- 

 quently captured with a spinning 

 bait. Under these circumstances 

 we rank it with pot-boiling 

 methods. When the conditions 

 make fly-fishing impossible that 

 is, in deep pools and in such 

 rivers as the Thames, where there 

 are no shallows suitable for the 

 fly spinning for trout is a per- 

 fectly legitimate method of 

 angling. Another consideration 

 that justifies it is the fixed habits 

 of fish of a certain age and size. 

 They display distinct apathy to 

 all surface food ; a lobworm, a 

 piece of bread, a minnow they will 

 take, but flies natural and arti- 

 ficial they seem to have openly 

 abjured. If they are to be caught 

 at all, their destruction can only 

 be encompassed by using some of 

 these lures. Spinning is the most 

 commendable way of angling for 

 them. A strong case can be 

 made out against this "cannibal," 



as he is called. He is indeed a 

 disagreeable fellow that declines 

 to conform to the usages of an 

 orthodox trout, and throw away 

 his life on an olive dun or red 

 quill. Heavy charges are levelled 

 against him for other vices, real 

 or imaginary. In his defence, 

 though I hold no brief for him, 

 let it be said that once a year he 

 is disposed to make an exception 

 in the case of the May-fly, and 

 one cherishes the fond hope of 

 getting on fighting terms with 

 him when he emerges from his 

 hiding-place, throws off the usual 

 reserve, and begins to feed on it. 

 When one meets him, then, in an 

 unguarded hour, and lands him 

 after a fight that sets every nerve 

 on the tremble, one will be dis- 

 posed to forgive him much and 

 say a good word in his favour. 



Spinning is by no means an 

 easy branch of the art of angling. 

 To throw a minnow 50 yards and 

 land it lightly on the water stands 

 for proficiency that can only be 

 gained by long practice. A special 

 rod, 9 to 10 ft. long, stiff m the 

 action, is required. The rings 

 should be large and upright, so 

 that the line, a fine, soft, finished 

 make, without any oil in it, can 

 run freely. The method of 

 manipulating the rod is similar to 

 that practised for pike and perch. 

 A reel of the " Silex " or Notting- 

 ham make is necessary. The 

 best bait is undoubtedly the 

 natural minnow mounted on a 

 flight of hooks. The single hook 

 is passed through the lips of the 

 minnow, the under one first, the 

 triangles fixed down the side, in- 



