MINNOW AND PAUR-TAIL FISHING 175 



up, and just pulls it towards him, trout will take it 

 readily. The best sport we ever had was by fishing 

 up stream with the minnow and worm alternately. 



The minnow may also be baited and used in the 

 same manner as a worm a small minnow is best for 

 this method ; but we have never met with much 

 success by using it in this way, and the sport is not 

 nearly so attractive as ordinary minnow fishing. 



Trout may be captured with minnow, when the waters 

 are clear, during the whole season, but the summer 

 quarter is the best. In the month of May, trout 

 generally take most readily in the afternoon, from two 

 or three to six or even later ; but in June and July, 

 the early morning, and the evening from a little 

 before sunset till midnight, and sometimes on till 

 daylight, are the best times. Should, however, the 

 weather be very coarse, it is useless fishing either in 

 the morning or at night, and the trout will take most 

 readily during the early part of the day. 



At all seasons, and at all hours, and in all con- 

 ditions of water unless, perhaps, in a full flood, 

 when an occasional blink of sunshine is beneficial 

 we prefer dark weather for trouting with the minnow ; 

 and in June and July the weather can hardly be too 

 coarse. 



In warm summer nights the minnow is a very 

 deadly bait, and should be fished with in quiet still 

 water, and about the shallow water at the foot and 

 edges of pools, as trout cruise about among such 

 places all night. 



The parr-tail may almost be considered as a sub- 



