94 BROOK AND RIVER TROUTING 



minnow there is none so popular in the North (and 

 deservedly so) as the " Ariel." It is easily baited ; 

 the lead (which can be had in various weights) is 

 pushed into the body of the bait, the bottom hook 

 is put through the back just above the tail, and the 

 gut is then drawn tight until a slight bend is imparted 

 to the minnow ; the other hooks are then put into 

 either side so as to hold the bait in position. There 

 is one point of importance which must be carefully 

 watched in baiting the tackle. The fore part of the 

 minnow must be perfectly straight ; if this is not so 

 and there is a curve in that part of the body, instead 

 of spinning cleanly, the minnow will come towards 

 the angler with an intoxicated wobble, which is fatal to 

 good results. 



The variety of artificial minnows offered to fishermen 

 is truly bewildering, and life is far too short for the 

 writers to have tested even a tithe of them ; but there 

 is one which has invariably proved a kiUer in a coloured 

 water, and that is the " Devon." It is sold in all 

 sizes from one inch upwards and in a variety of colours. 

 The virtues of this minnow lie, in all probability, in 

 its particularly brilliant spin, and it is the writers' 

 practice always to have two or three sizes handy, in 

 gold, brown and blue. 



To them it is a proven fact that the artificial is 

 never so good as the natural ; for a trout if he once 

 runs at an artificial, but is not hooked, will seldom 



