TRAILING, TROLLING, OR TRAWLING. 



83 



When the water is rather rough, two flies on the same hook may- 

 be used. Success depends, in a great measure, on keeping the 

 fly on the water, and the fly only, the gut being altogether in 

 the air. A beginner will be obliged to let a few inches of 

 gut touch the water; but not so the practised hand. The 

 wind constantly varies in force ; as it increases, lower the 

 point of the rod; as it decreases, raise it. 



Spinning, or Trolling, is chiefly carried on in large lakes 

 where the trout do not rise well to a fly. Tackle similar to, 

 but stronger than, that described on page 71 should be used ; but 

 its strength must depend on the size of the 

 trout. For the flight I have found nothing 

 so good as a Chapman spinner, a good form 

 of which, known as the "Archer," is shown in 

 Fig. 59. The best natural baits are stone- 

 loaches, gudgeons, and minnows;* but almost 

 any small fish may be used. The bait may '^ 

 be cast out in the manner recommended for ^^ 

 Thames trout, but it is more commonly 

 trailedf behind a boat. The secrets of suc- 

 cess in trailing, or trolling, are to fish over 

 the right ground, and to let out abundance 

 of line — 50yds. or more. Of artificial baits, 

 Devon and phantom minnows are the best. 

 If a phantom bait has a tendency to bend 

 in half, stuff it with cotton wool. These 

 baits can easily be weighted by putting a 

 few shot inside them. The two best colours are silver belly 

 and blue back, and gold belly vrith brown back. In some 

 waters a silver phantom is a very excellent bait. The size 

 depends entirely on the state of the weather, water, and the 

 time of year. The same rules apply to spinning-baits as to 

 flies in this respect. The best place to spin over is the line 



Fig. 59. Archer 

 Spinner. 



* Natural baits may be salted, or kept in spirits of wine, or in King's Preserva- 

 tive. The last plan is best. The Preservative is sold at 157, Commercial Road, 

 London 



t Termed "trolling" in Scotland and Ireland, and in some few places 

 "trawling." 



DIV, HI. H 



