Minnow- Tackle. 20 1 



tional case. In night-fishing, no doubt, it is some- 

 what different. Then the large trout often attack 

 the minnow from behind, and are caught by tail or 

 drag hooks. 



I find myself compelled to differ from almost all 

 writers on angling in regard to the use of lead in 

 spinning for trout with the minnow. I never have 

 sinkers on a spinning-trace, either when fishing up- 

 stream or down, and this may fairly be considered 

 as a point in favour of the tackle which I advocate. 

 In Stoddart's ' Companion ' 1 we are told that " the 

 advantages of leading heavily consist of improved 

 spinning, greater likelihood of attracting the eye of 

 the fish, and a much better chance of hooking 

 them." And Stewart says that " split shot are 

 necessary to the minnow - fisher, and should be 

 placed above the first swivel : if placed below, they 

 interfere very much with the spinning." Now, if 

 placed in any position whatever on my tackle, they 

 will not only " interfere very much with the spin- 

 ning," but in a low water will effectually bring it to 

 a speedy termination. Why, even in the absence of 

 sinkers, it requires very smart and skilful movements 

 when fishing up-stream to prevent the minnow from 

 reaching the bottom and abiding there permanently. 

 But the tackle I recommend is adapted to make 

 the minnow spin, even when drawn slowly through 

 1 P. 109. 



