166 THE PRACTICAL ANGLER 



minnow-fishers. A large trout will take a small 

 minnow as readily as a large one, a middle-sized 

 trout more so, and a small trout, which could not 

 take a large minnow, will take a small one readily. 

 In the spring of the year, before trout come into 

 condition, or in autumn, when they are again out 

 of it, a large minnow may answer ; or even in sum- 

 mer, when the waters are flooded, a middle-sized 

 minnow may prove inviting; but in streams in- 

 habited by well-fed trout, when they are low and 

 clear, minnows cannot be used too small if they will 

 turn the swivels. A large minnow spins in a clumsy, 

 unsightly manner, very different from the neat turn- 

 ing of a small one. Trout, also, can get hold of a 

 small minnow much more easily than of a large one, 

 and so the angler has a much better chance of hook- 

 ing them. The whitest and most silvery minnows 

 should always be selected, those that are of a 

 greenish colour underneath being almost worthless. 



For trouting with the minnow the rod should be 

 double-handed, not less than fifteen or sixteen feet ; 

 and in order to throw the minnow with the addi- 

 tions of swivels and shot properly, it must be stiff. 

 The reel, line, and casting-line in common use will 

 answer very well for this also. It is the common 

 practice to dress minnow-tackle on gut strong 

 enough to draw out a salmon by main force, as 

 if the trout, which requires the finest gut to deceive 

 it when angling with the fly, would seize a minnow 

 at the end of a rope. The argument used in favour 

 of this practice is, that it lasts the longer, as no 



