208 A BOOK ON ANGLING 



say, that, if the trout runs well and takes the bait fairly, there 

 are quite enough hooks to bring him to basket ; but, if he 

 runs badly, I would rather not hook him at all, as a slight 

 hold followed by a scramble and a lose will certainly be the 

 result, and the trout is shy for weeks, if not for the season. 

 This is what I complain of in those many but small-hooked 

 tackles. 



The trace to be employed in spinning for the Thames trout 

 should be as long as can be conveniently managed ; and 

 there should be from two to three feet of good round sound 

 trout-gut at least below the lead, which should be a " Field " 

 lead or one on a similar principle, to prevent kinking, with at 

 least two swivels below the lead, If three are used, they should 

 be doubled or joined, as recommended by Mr. Pennell ; this 

 gives great play to the bait. A large swivel at the head of the 

 trace, to connect the running-line, is all that is needed above 

 the lead if it be on the " Field " principle, as all the spinning 

 takes place below it. The trace above the lead should consist 

 of one strand of stouter single gut, one of double twisted, and 

 two of treble twisted. This makes up a very useful trace. 



In spinning for these large trout, the brighter and more 

 attractive the bait is the better. A small dace or a small 

 bleak I always prefer to any other bait, as a gudgeon or loach. 

 It is desirable that they should spin evenly and well, if only to 

 prevent the quick-eyed trout from seeing the hooks about the 

 bait. All that I have said about putting a bait on jack tackle 

 will apply equally to trout ; the same rules must be observed 

 if the bait be required to spin well. 



In the early part of the season the trout will be found in the 

 open streams ; but as the season advances, and the nights 

 get warm, and the water low and clear, they appear to draw 

 more up to the weirs. Perhaps bait is more plentiful there at 

 such times. Although it is the custom to fish for them with 

 a neat little bait about three and a half inches long, yet I have 

 known the best fish hooked with a large jack-bait and gimp- 

 tackle after they had been fished over with the usual small 

 baits for weeks in vain. Probably the larger bait tempted 

 them ; and, indeed, if the angler should see a Thames trout 

 feeding, he will more often see him chasing a large bait than 

 a small one. 



Owing to their shyness of the spinning-bait, it has become 

 greatly the practice of late years to fish for them with a live 

 bait, sinking and drawing with but a couple of shot and a 



