MINNOW TROLLING. 109 



common plan. The Major, as I understood, was the first who got 

 a bite, when probably being over eager he struck too hard, and 

 away went the hook, fish and sixpence ; but incredible as it may 

 appear, when fishing with a fish bait afterwards several mackerel 

 having been taken in the interim the gallant major actually 

 hooked his former acquaintance, which this time he had the good 

 fortune to secure, as also to regain his lost hook and sixpence, 

 which was found still firmly fixed in the fish's mouth. 



In places adapted for the purpose I have taken some good trout 

 with a live minnow, having the hook stuck either through the 

 upper lip or back fin. No float should be used, and just a sufficient 

 quantity of lead to sink the bait and prevent its rising to the sur- 

 face. Yet this mode, though a very good one in its way, is only 

 adapted to certain places, such as where the stream is broken, 

 into foam and eddies, from the sudden escape of the confined 

 waters; but in these places no better plan can be resorted to. 

 Deep and narrow gutters also, communicating with the main stream 

 from an adjacent leat or backwater, when they contain a full 

 current of water, are admirably suited to this mode of angling, as 

 trouts, as soon almost as the waters are set in motion, come up from 

 out of the main river in pursuit of the minnows; and many a 

 gutter that an angler has jumped thoughtlessly over, has contained 

 more and better fish than for some time have found their way into 

 his fishing pannier ; some of which he would have most assuredly 

 got hold of, had he but known the proper way to set to work about 

 it ; for the object of the trouts in coming up is to make a hearty 

 meal there, which the very boldness of the adventure shews they 

 are determined to have at all risks. A minnow therefore being 

 the very thing they are on the look out for must consequently be 

 the best that can possibly be employed, and one drifted carefully 

 down, baited as above directed, is not often permitted to pass un- 

 heeded by, if the angler does but keep himself concealed from the 

 view of the fish. In fishing these gutters it is the better plan to 

 commence near the main river, letting the stream drift on your 

 bait towards it, and if you do not succeed there, go up a little 

 higher and fish down to where you first commenced, and so keep 

 on till you hook a fish ; which having done play him down stream 

 so that he may not alarm any of his acquaintances above, as he 

 would be very apt to do if led captive before thir eyes : on this 

 account it is that I recommend beginning at the lower end of the 



