NAMAYCUSH AND OTHERS 105 



cable to use the wooden bait-casting minnows or phan- 

 toms. Fairly large trolling spoons should be used. 



A very necessary item in the kit of the angler for 

 lake trout is a good strong gaff. The smaller trout, 



from four to six pounds, may be safely 



landed in a large landing net, if the 

 frame and handle of the net are strong and the net 

 itself strongly woven and firmly attached to the frame, 

 but for the larger fish a gaff is practically imperative. 

 On one lake where the writer trolled for lakers the local 

 talent used frog spears in place of gaffs four-pronged 

 affairs something like a small pitchfork. It was some- 

 what amusing and rather exciting to listen to the 

 ensuing conversation in case a poorly hooked trout was 

 knocked off the hook when the fisherman jabbed him 

 with the "grains" and the weapon failed to hold. On 

 no account use one of the murderous "patent" spring 

 gaffs. If it is desired to mount the fish as a trophy the 

 gaff should not be used. The best alternative in case 

 neither net or gaff is at hand and if the fish is a large 

 one, is to shoot it through the head with a twenty-two 

 pistol or rifle. 



Deep-trolling requires one man at the oars and an- 

 other to handle the rod. The boat should always move 



slowly in order that the line may run 

 V? sufficiently deep and the progress of the 



boat should be at an even pace. When 

 trolling with the hand-line the angler should, from time 

 to time, "feel bottom" with the sinker to be certain that 

 he is fishing in the proper depth of water. As above 

 noted the trolling should be done along the deep chan- 



