206 Minnow-Fishing. 



having had the minnow in its eye, would, had 

 circumstances only favoured its temerity, have 

 made vigorous endeavours to get it also in its 

 mouth. When the angler has exhausted his cast, 

 the minnow, as we have seen, will be a good way 

 below him. Let him then gently bring it to the 

 surface and near to the spot where he is standing, 

 before he attempts to give the next cast, which 

 should, of course, be made a step or two farther on, 

 so as to cover a fresh portion of water. 



My opinions on striking with the spinning-min- 

 now, as on shotting, do not coincide with those of 

 many anglers ; and probably the explanation in both 

 cases is to be found in the difference of tackle. If, 

 in fishing down-stream, the angler observe the trout 

 take his bait, he should allow it merely time to 

 turn before striking. But he must be sure that it 

 has actually taken it ; for an inexperienced fisher, 

 seeing a trout following his minnow, is very apt 

 to strike before the fish has, by seizing the bait, 

 fully disclosed its intentions. Kecommending, as I 

 do, the angler to fish without sinkers, I find this 

 caution all the more necessary, because, were the bait 

 so heavily shotted as to be always out of his sight, 

 the risk of striking too soon would in great measure 

 be removed. Why I do not shot the line to avoid 

 this risk is, as I have already shown, simply to 

 avoid another and greater. But frequently in a 



