MINNOW FISHING 95 



come again. Whereas with a natural minnow, once 

 the trout has tasted blood, he often cannot resist the 

 temptation to have a second go, unless he has been 

 badly scratched ; and in some instances, he will come 

 again and again until finally hooked. There are, 

 however, times when natural minnows seem more 

 difficult to get than trout ; and for a clear water on 

 such occasions, a light Phantom, or one of the many 

 excellent reproductions of the minnow sold by fishing 

 tackle houses can be used. 



The trace should be from three to five feet in length, 

 the former being long enough for a coloured water, 

 and the latter short enough for the clearest conditions. 

 It should, for average use, be of finest undrawn gut, 

 though when using very small minnows in a low clear 

 water, a much finer quality is to be recommended. 



To obviate kinking of the cast and line, and to get 

 a nice free spin, it is, of course, necessary to use swivels 

 on the trace. Of these the angler should always 

 carry a supply of various sizes, and at least two should 

 be put on to the cast. The writers* practice is more 

 often than not to use three, increasing shghtly in size 

 as the distance from the minnow increases. And 

 in preference to the use of lead on the trace, they are 

 always for having it concealed in the body of the 

 minnow whenever possible. 



The most silvery natural minnows are undoubtedly 

 the best. They should be from an inch and a quarter 



