78 A BOOK ON ANGLING 



anglers like to add a reverse hook, or a hook tied on the 

 reverse way, just above the tail triangle, in order to secure 

 the crooking of the tail ; and this is a very useful addition, 

 as it keeps the crook in form and protects and holds the bait 

 together. In the common three triangle pattern too great 

 space should not be allowed between the tap triangle and 

 the second one, or the tail will have too much play and the 

 bait will not spin properly. If the three triangles are short 

 for the bait more space between the other triangles is preferable. 

 To bait the three triangle tackle, take a small fish (a dace, 

 gudgeon, or bleak), stick one of the hooks of the lowest triangle 

 into the flesh of the tail, bringing the point out on the same 

 side so that the shanks of the hooks may be in a straight line 

 along the side of the bait, draw the tail up so as to bend or 

 crook it, and insert one of the hooks of the second triangle in 

 the middle of the side, about or a little below the vent ; stick 

 one of the hooks of the third triangle into the middle of the 

 side near the shoulder. It should, if the bait is suited to the 

 size of the tackle, go in just below the pectoral fins ; then, 

 having slid the lip-hook down to the proper distance so as 

 neither to bend the head of the bait nor allow it to be too 

 loose, put the lip-hook through both lips of the bait, the 

 point being upwards. Examine the drawing of the lip-hook 

 and it will be seen that the gimp passes two or three times 

 round the shank in order to secure it from slipping ; by a 

 little manipulation the lip-hook can be slid up or down so 

 that the head can be slackened or tightened at will. The 

 gimp is wound on or unwound from the shank of the lip- 

 hook very easily if it be unlooped from the rest of the trace, 

 by passing the end of the gimp under each turn. It is 

 difficult to explain either in words or by a drawing this 

 operation which is very simple if once seen. If the bait be 

 put on properly, the three triangles will be in a straight line, 

 along the side of the bait, and there will be no loose gimp 

 between them (see Plate V, Fig. i). If the gimp be loose 

 between the hooks, the bait when drawn against the water 

 " buckles " as it is termed, i.e. bends back as if the backbone 

 were broken, and this will be found fatal to spinning (see 

 Plate V, Fig. 3). If, on the other hand, it be too short and 

 tight, the bait is bent the other way, and will wobble too 

 much (see Plate V, Fig. 4). The hooks being all firmly fixed, 

 if the bait appears to hang straight and fairly on them, drop 

 it into the water and draw it rapidly along ; if it spins to suit 



