428 THE PRACTICAL FISHERMAN. 



In flood time, just as the stream is beginning to rise, is also favourable, 

 and when it is quite thick then no kind of fishing equals the worm, for 

 dead lines, of course. It is not unusual during such rising of the water 

 to find the best and largest fish in comparatively shallow parts, and in 

 no case have I found it productive to angle in deep water, which must 

 necessarily be opaque and dark. Stewart dissents from this, saying 

 " sumcient shot should be used when the streams are swollen to keep the 

 minnows well under water, as by doing so it is more likely to be seen, 

 and the Ught beinff less, the character of the lure is not so easily 

 detected." The words I have italicised seem to contradict each other. 

 How in the world can anything be more likely to be seen when the light 

 on which vision depends is proportionately less ? 



Casting up stream, if the water be excessively bright and clean, and 

 sufficiently deep, is a much more elegant method than doing so down 

 stream. I have seen small minnows used on the three-hook worm tackle 

 with some advantage. 



I now arrive at a short consideration of artificial baits, whose name is 

 legion. Before doing so, I may say that the tyro may take it as an 

 incontrovertible certainty that no artificial baits are worth company in 

 productive power of sport with a well-arranged natural bait. Inasmuch, 

 however, as there are many spots in which trout and pike exist, as well 

 as salmon, and all three, besides perch, will take an artificial bait, 

 "valuing the giddy pleasure of the eyes," when the natural cannot be 

 had, I here notice the best that have come under my notice and experi- 

 ment. I wish the reader to quite understand that I am speaking after 

 carefully testing each against the natural bait on various occasions. 



Perhaps the old spoon bait (see Fig. 47) deserves the post of honour as 

 a good all-round artificial bait. Various sizes are in use, and they are 

 constructed of various materials, nickel, copper, brass, and tin some are 

 wholly bright this is the most attractive for the lordly salmon others 

 are bronzed, or, more rightly, coppered on the outer side ; others are 

 painted red inside, sometimes also containing a weight and an addition 

 in the shape of flanges to enable them to spin with greater celerity. 

 Fish, however, soon get used to a spoon bait, and it therefore is only a 

 recommendable auxiliary to meet an emergency. 



The rough drawing of a spoon bait, shown at Fig 47, is the size and 

 shape I have used to the greatest advantage. Its colouring I have varied 

 very greatly, according to the state of the water, &c. I find that salmon, 

 the trout, as well as pike and perch, prefer it lightly bronzed on the 

 outside, and quite bright inside. As indicated, a red tassel is enwrapped 

 round the lower triplet ; the faint lines show how this is done. A very 

 good substitute for the finished makes of the tackle shops can be manu- 



