SPINNING FOR TROUT 61 



it fears us, therefore something we feed upon. 

 I will catch it." All of which is beside the ques- 

 tion, for the fish strikes instinctively without any 

 mental activity whatever. Spinners came into 

 existence to meet a well defined need: to wit, 

 to stir trout to activity when "slumberous," 

 "finicky," "off their feed," or whatever you 

 please. 



"But will a true sportsman use spinners for 

 trout?" Here is a question that is being asked 

 over and over again by anglers who above all 

 things desire to be sportsmen. I cannot see why 

 with proper tackle spinning may not be as truly 

 sportsmanlike as fly-fishing even. That one 

 method of fishing is in itself more sportsmanlike 

 than another is a fallacy. Sportsmanship is 

 something finer than tackle, though there is such 

 a thing as "proper" tackle. Sportsmanship is 

 the spirit of fair play raised to the nih power, a 

 willingness to give and take and keep sweet the 

 while. The reason some anglers frown upon the 

 spinner for trout is because they do not realize 

 the possibility of the little whirler when used with 

 proper tackle. As much skill is required to 

 handle a small spoon with skill and finesse as is 

 employed by the average fly-fisherman a state- 

 ment which many will doubt, but a fact possible 



