MINNOW FISHING loi 



weapon. The minnow is also sometimes useful when 

 a gale of wind in the middle of smnmer puts fly 

 fishing out of the question. 



To be able to command success with the minnow, 

 either in clear water or in brooks, is an accomplishment 

 worth striving for. It is a sport that gives the fisher- 

 man excitement in plenty, as the whole actions of the 

 trout are seen from beginning to end. And it is 

 impossible to describe adequately the fascination 

 which holds the angler whose eyes are riveted 

 upon a fish rushing down upon his minnow, nor to 

 tell the difficulty of refraining from incontinently 

 snatching away the minnow from a fish in the act 

 of seizing it. 



Although minnow fishing has many attractions, 

 when followed in times of bright skies and low waters, 

 it is perhaps more open to abuse than any other of the 

 fair methods of angUng. For not only does the 

 indiscriminate use of the minnow, especially with the 

 long-distance casting reel in the hands of a persevering 

 man — ^not necessarily a very skilful one — ^work havoc 

 amongst the fish, but it spoils the sport of others, as 

 a spun minnow usually puts fish down for some con- 

 siderable time. Therefore, in Club waters particularly, 

 a man should be careful and circumspect in the use 

 of the minnow. For while its judicious use will do good 

 in removing fish that can well be done without, and 

 wiU sometimes provide a dish of trout when the fly 



