422 THE PRACTICAL FISHERMAN. 



This tackle is greatly superior to the Hawker or Salter's arrangement, 

 in that it does away with the unsightly nose cap used in those makes. It 

 also enables the bait to last longer a matter of some importance if one 

 be short of minnows and the fish running well. 



Now, though the tackle gives a capital result, 

 its great fault is the immovable lip hook. Every 

 time a different sized bait is desired a different 

 sized flight must be used. This is how I obviate the 

 evil ^th the "dodge" I referred to a little time 

 since. As the device readily explains itself to 

 anyone who has read what I have said before on 

 lip hooks, I need only say that the hook can be 

 altered as desired by simply loosening the tie at a, 

 (Fig. 39), and then, when the lip hook is adjusted 

 according to the size of the fish, drawing it tight. 

 Of course, there is, again, just the objection of the 

 double gut above the fish ; but in this case it is 

 not nearly so worthy attention as in the case before 

 referred to. 



Suppose the angler furnished with the above 

 make of tackle, he selects his bait, and, loosening 

 the tie at a, brings down the lead and lip hook 

 till the distance between the lip hook and the first 

 triplet is sufficient to allow of the bait being bent, 

 as shown in Fig. 38. All he has to do now, in order 

 to secure the lip hook, is to draw the knot (a) tight. 

 He then slips the lead into the bait's mouth, closes 

 its mouth securely by means of the lip hook 

 through both jaws, inserts the first triangle in the 

 bait's back under the root of the dorsal fin, and 

 the affair is ready for use. There is a loop of 

 double gut to which the trace is attached, and this 

 loop is the only detraction from the perfection of the 

 arrangement if, indeed, it be a detraction at all. 



I make my trout nights after this pattern even for 

 the Thames, and I have never had a mishap ; that 

 is, I have never failed to secure my fish on his 

 striking. I find also, if the trace be knotted on, as 

 shown in Fig. 26, p. 410, should a jack by chance 

 take the bait and cut one of the strands of the loop, 

 there is still a chance of securing the fish. This piece of tackle is, I fancy, 

 exactly what is required where baits are varied in size and species. 



FIG. 89. IMPROVED 

 MINNOW FLIGHT. 



