Angling with the Minnow. 277 



mid-day, and had better be consulted in the morning 

 or evening. Nothing can be done with him at all 

 on hot fiery days ; but when the weather is cool or 

 windy at this season, you may " get a rise " out of 

 him at any hour. Indeed, in summer, such days 

 are the best for capturing all kinds of fish, if we 

 except the perch and the minnow. 



The observations made in a previous chapter on 

 minnow-fishing for trout, may be taken as applying 

 equally well to minnow-fishing for salmon. Almost 

 the only points of difference have regard to the 

 size of the hooks and the weighting of the line. 

 I use three No. 13 hooks, and make up the tackle 

 in the way already described, baiting with larger 

 minnows to suit the larger hooks. To fish this 

 bait properly, sinkers are necessary. In a low clear 

 water two No. 2 shot will suffice, but more are 

 needed if the water be heavy. They are generally 

 placed about 18 inches from the hooks. Unless 

 the line be well weighted, the angler runs very 

 little chance of success ; for salmon, unlike trout, 

 rarely rise to the surface to seize the minnow. 

 Besides keeping the bait well sunk, a few leads 

 materially assist the slow spinning which is needed 

 to suit the slower movements of the salmon, and to 

 tempt him to take a bite. But such a style of 

 fishing is not without its risks ; for, plying his lure 

 thus slowly and near the bottom, the angler is very 



