DROP MINNOW-TACKLE. 75 



will stand mucli rough work. Tliey can be weighted by the 

 insertion of a few shot. Another good spinning bait is the 

 Halcyon, made by Hardy Brothers, which is simply a little 

 bunch of peacock harl, spun by means of two fans at the 

 head. Its one fault is that it pricks very many fish, and for 

 that reason is very properly prohibited on many fisheries. Some 

 anglers prefer baits which spin from the tail, and have no fans 

 at the head; but my own experience is that more trout are 

 safely hooked on straight baits than on those with curved 

 tails. 



Minnow Trolling Tackle is little known in the South, but 

 a good deal used in the North. It is most suitable for deep 

 holes, under hollow banks, and similar places. Sometimes a 

 single hook (a triangle is better) with a leaded shank is used. 

 By means of a baiting-needle, the gut of the hook is put in at 

 the mouth and out at the tail of the bait, and the leaded 

 shank of the hook drawn into its belly. The bait is worked 

 with a sink-and-draw motion, and, when the trout seizes it, a 

 few seconds are allowed for him to gorge; this means killing 

 all fish, big and little. Far better is the drop minnow tackle 

 invented by a member of the firm of Hardy Brothers. It is 

 worked in exactly the same manner, but, there being two 

 triangles in the side of the minnow, the angler strikes im- 

 mediately the fish seizes the bait. I have tried this tackle in 

 rapid streams with much success. It is quite as killing as the 

 spinning minnow. Above the two triangles is a fixed single 

 hook, which catches into the tail of the bait. I am inclined 

 to think the tackle would be more useful if this hook were 

 adjustable like a lip-hook. One tackle would then fit any 

 sized minnow. Above the hooks should be 2yds. of gut. A 

 swivel is often used, but is not required. The rod and line 

 should be the same as for spinning. 



