578 



SALMON AND TROUT. 



an extra longish top, or a rod of the same description but of a 

 somewhat lighter build always, of course, with stiff rings and 

 a very fine dressed silk running line, such as I have referred to 

 in the preliminary chapter on tackle will be found most con- 

 venient for this sort of fishing, which is applicable throughout 

 the season to every description of running water containing 

 trout ; sharp streams, stickles, and rushes being the most 

 favourable. 



In regard to the rod, line, trace, &c., and 

 method of ' working,' there is no difference 

 between the natural and artificial baits. 



The engraving gives the form of an artifi- 

 cial minnow that I had made some years ago. 

 I think it possesses in one or two points 

 advantages over the plain brass minnow 7 re- 

 commended by Mr. Wheatley, and notably 

 in the position of the flying triangles, which 

 it will be seen are so arranged as to make 

 it almost impossible for a trout to escape 

 being hooked. This minnow, which is made 

 both of brass and white metal, is hexagonal 

 or octagonal in form, the object being that 

 the sides and angles catching the light may 

 gain additional glitter and brilliancy. One 

 side is coloured a bright metallic green to 

 represent the minnow's back, the other half 

 representing, of course, the belly. The small 

 round protuberance above the lowest triangle, 

 and at the base of the brass minnow, is a 

 glass bead which is slid down on to a knot in the gut, 

 thickened at the point by waxed lapping so as to make it fit 

 tight. The bead thus prevents the friction of the minnow 

 fraying or wearing out the gut below. 



The minnow itself can be so adjusted that the trace and 

 tail hooks will either spin with it, or remain stationary and allow 

 the minnow to spin by itself. Each alternative presents some 



HEXAGONAL 

 MINNOW. 



