THROWING THE LINE. 147 



animals, while they watch, with apparent indifference, 

 the movements of such as are healthy and banded toge- 

 ther. I do not, of course, mean to assert that trout 

 will forbear attacking the minnow in its active state, in 

 the same manner as, when hard pressed, the creatures 

 mentioned attack their game or quarry; on the con- 

 trary, they are well known to do so, and often, as the 

 contents of their maws testify, very successfully; but 

 every angler, I think, must coincide with me in opinion, 

 that a spinning bait takes their fancy in a wonderful 

 degree; to account for which, I am perfectly justified 

 in making the assumption, with respect to it, above 

 set forth. 



The angler, then, must bear in mind that it is folly 

 and over-refinement to attempt approximating the 

 movements of his bait to those of a healthy minnow. 

 Such an effect, by any known process, he cannot pro- 

 duce. His sole object should, therefore, be to hide and 

 disguise the tackle, and it is solely by rapid spinning 

 he can accomplish this. The quick and equal spinning 

 of the lure is, in fact, the one thing most essential to be 

 studied and understood in fishing with the minnow. 

 This attained, what remains to be known and done is, 

 in many respects, comparatively easy ; for instance, the 

 throwing of the line. All that the angler requires to 

 pay attention to, over and above the instructions I have 

 given upon that matter, in my chapter on fly-fishing, is, 

 that he does not injure or tear the bait ; a misfortune to 

 be avoided, chiefly by care, and by not attempting to 

 cast the minnow further than is requisite. Except in 

 angling for salmon, indeed, I never experienced the 

 necessity of throwing a long line, when using this lure; 

 and often, instead of casting it like the fly, I adopt the 

 expedient of heaving or pitching it forward, sometimes, 



