SALMON AND SEA- TROUT. 231 



though heavier than either of the two last, can be 

 used like a fly with practice, so long as the angler 

 remembers what he is using, and does not force his 

 casting or strain his rod. With so perceptible a 

 weight at the end of the line one can feel distinctly 

 when the line is extended behind one, and so know 

 the exact moment at which to begin the forward 

 cast. 



So long as the minnow or spoon has a good swivel 

 of its own, no swivels are required on the cast. I 

 loop my gut straight to the bait, just as if it were a 

 fly, but in heavy water I generally prefer that the 

 cast should be all of fine twisted gut ; one is not so 

 liable to crack the minnow or spoon off in the air. 

 The spoon, by the way, should have its split rings 

 made of phosphor bronze, and not of steel, which 

 is brittle and liable to snap in casting ; also only 

 one triangle at its tail is necessary to arm it. The 

 shoulder triangle, which is usually sold with it, 

 should be taken off. Further, the angler should 

 have a good supply of spare triangles in view of 

 breakages, which are frequent in salmon-fishing. 

 The wire of the hooks must be rather light or the 

 spoon will not spin properly, and the breaking of a 

 point now and then against a rock or in a salmon's 

 mouth is inevitable. It is the matter of a few 

 moments to open a split ring, take off the broken 



