HOW TO CAST THE M1XMOW. i>87 



It is by no means a bad tackle for a small hooked pattern, 

 but I do not like the plan of putting lead inside the 

 minnow ; minnows thus treated very soon wear out and cut 

 through at the gills and throat ; the bait, too, is rather 

 apt to wobble in this method of baiting. 



Before using minnow-tackle, the angler should always 

 soak it well, as everything works and spins better after a 

 soaking than when stiff and hard. All the swivels, too, 

 should be looked to, that they may work in the freest 

 possible manner, and without a hitch ; and if any swivel 

 does not work well, and cannot by oiling or greasing and 

 working be got into good order, it is better to discard it 

 and use another, as in practice it will be found useless. 



The minnows may be carried in a small tin box, strapped 

 to the left side, as in the natural May fly-fishing ; and as 

 at times there may be a good deal of wading, and the 

 angler may have to bait while wading which is an awk- 

 ward job unless he walks out of the water to the bank, 

 which is not always desirable the angler should have 

 buttoned to his hip a leather socket to fit the but of his 

 rod. You will find, brother angler, a wonderful comfort 

 in this. For example, when landing your fish, put the but 

 in the socket, and hold your rod by the left hand ; you 

 then have perfect command over your fish without any 

 strain on the arm, and you have your right hand per- 

 fectly free to work the net and lift the fish out ; when you 

 have lifted him out and disposed of your net, the rod rests 

 in the hollow of the arm, and both hands can be employed 

 upon the fish and the hooks. 



And now as to casting. Unless you are casting long 

 casts from the bank, you do not adopt the Thames style, 

 but with a long rod, and rather more line out than the 

 length of the rod, you swing the bait upwards by the 

 underhand swing. This is the general plan, but I adopt 

 a much better one, and get out more line than can be got 



