268 THE PRACTICAL FISHERMAN. 



thick that the fish cannot therefore discern the angler. The minnow 

 should be well weighted, so that the following trout may not have the 

 chance of clearly discerning the angler. Throwing, as before indicated, 

 up stream and out is at this time the most approved method. 



There can be no certain rules given as to the niceties of trout minnow 

 spinning. Under the banks, at the foot and eddies of falls mid-stream 

 in quiet pools, all have their fascinations as places of resort for 8. 

 fario. Constant practice, as in fly-fishing, can alone make the tyro an 

 adept. This is really all I can say as a conclusion. 



Before going from the subject, however, I cannot refrain from referring 

 to what I consider an error on the part of that great trout fisher whom 

 I have quoted so often Stewart. He says, referring to the generally 

 received opinion that trout take minnows headfirst : " Prom observations 

 taken when the water was clear, we think that five trout out of six seize 

 the minnow from behind." This I strongly doubt. I have watched trout 

 in an aquarium repeatedly take minnows, and I asssert that the exact 

 converse is the case. Five times out of six trout take their prey head 

 first, like a perch. I have never seen any signs, on opening a trout, to 

 lead me to imagine for a moment that these fish capture and swallow their 

 prey tail first ; on the face of it it seems improbable. 



There is a pretty little piece of minnow tackle used on the Windrush, 

 which simply transposes the minnow into a sort of gorge bait. The 

 method of fishing is by sinking and drawing, and one waits ten seconds 

 before striking. It is very effective. 



Dead minnows may be preserved for fishing in several ways ; how to 

 keep live ones needs no telling. One method of keeping when dead is 

 to salt them. They should be placed in a box pierced with holes, through 

 which the brine may drain, and dry salt sprinkled over them in liberal 

 quantities. They will keep in good order for four or five days. Another 

 way is to pack them pretty tightly in a pickle jar, and pour in spirits of 

 wine ; or painting them over with spirits of wine is also a good plan. 

 Either of the two latter dodges toughens the bait. The best-sized min- 

 nows are those of about two inches. 



On some rivers live-baiting with the minnow is resorted to with great 

 success, and I can assure the reader it is no difficult matter to land a 21b. 

 trout on a single hook and finest drawn gut as used in this style of fishing. 

 The sight must be sharply exercised in watching the minnow, lest in the 

 spirit of mischief he gets round reeds and other obstructions, to the 

 annoyance of your temper and the breakage of your line. A small round 

 pellet of cork may be used as a sort of indicator of its whereabouts, but 

 it is better dispensed with. Similar tackle to that employed for Thames 

 trout may be used. 



