MINNOW AND PARR-TAIL FISHING 171 



minnow from twisting the line. One should be 

 placed about two feet above the hook, and a second 

 about a yard farther up. Split shot, Nos. 2 and 3, 

 are also necessary to the minnow-fisher, and should 

 be placed above the first swivel. Some place them 

 below, but in this position they interfere very much 

 with the spinning of the minnow, as it has to turn 

 round two or three split shot, which, unless a large 

 minnow, it cannot do properly. 



Minnow-fishing in flooded waters is so different 

 from minnow-fishing when the waters are clear, that 

 we shall treat of them separately, and shall commence 

 with the flooded waters. The mode of fishing usually 

 adopted is to throw the minnow across the stream, 

 and work it gradually round, now pulling it up the 

 water for a foot or so, and then letting it fall back 

 again, and so on, till it comes round to the side on 

 which the angler is standing. It should be subjected 

 to every variety of motion, one cast drawn steadily 

 against the stream, and the next with short jerks 

 across it ; and even allowing it to go with the 

 current will sometimes prove inviting. Great care 

 should be taken not to lift the minnow out of the 

 water till it is quite close to the edge, as trout will 

 frequently follow the minnow, and make no attempt 

 to seize it until it is just at the edge, when, 

 apparently afraid that their prey is about to escape, 

 they make a rush at it. When a trout has taken the 

 minnow the line should be slackened for a moment or 

 two, to allow it to get the minnow fairly in its mouth, 

 and then the angler should strike firmly. Fly-fishers 



