148 ON MINNOW AND PARR-TAIL FISHING. 



under certain circumstances, of merely dropping it from 

 the end of the rod. 



As to the proper mode of playing or working the 

 minnow, I require to say little. It should be sub- 

 mitted, in fact, to every test and variety of movement ; 

 these, however, being made dependent upon the nature 

 of the current it is cast into. Sometimes, like the 

 salmon-fly, it ought to be urged along, by short measured 

 jerks ; sometimes drawn steadily against the stream, in 

 one continued pull ; sometimes made to descend for a 

 little way, and then re-operated on by the angler ; now 

 on being cast across, it should be brought back in a 

 curve to his feet ; and again, allowed merely to dip near 

 some stone or ledge of rock; in short, provided the 

 spinning movement is kept up, and all collateral in- 

 structions already given attended to, there is no possible 

 mode of playing this bait, which may not prove suc- 

 cessful in attracting trout. I have, a short way back, 

 professed myself in favour of deep fishing, and enume- 

 rated one or two of the advantages derived from it. 

 These, I may again state, are connected chiefly with 

 the spinning of the minnow and hooking of the fish ; 

 and it is in this latter respect, as an assistance to the 

 striker, that I now once more recommend the adoption 

 of heavy leads. The angler using them is not put to 

 the necessity of constantly watching his lure, but detects 

 the presence of an assailant, by the hand oftener than 

 the eye. This, of course, he cannot do, until the fish 

 has fairly made seizure of the minnow, whereas in sur- 

 face spinning, the case is different. Accordingly, each 

 method requires from the craftsman its peculiar manner 

 of treatment, as regards the striking. 



When the fish, as generally happens in deep spinning, 

 is felt instead of being seen, the angler has only to 



