THE FLY FISHER'S GUIDE. 133 



against the stream, and thereby facilitating the 

 spinning of the minnow, which cannot turn too 

 quickly. Two double box swivels should also be 

 used, as they prevent the line from twisting : the 

 lower one should be fixed about three feet above 

 the bait, and the other three feet higher. 



The great advantage of minnow fishing is, that 

 it may be most successfully practised at those 

 periods when the water is unfit for the use of the 

 fly, as the strongest streams are best for this 

 purpose, when the water is clearing after a flood, 

 or is thickened or discoloured from any other 

 cause ; and it is an equally good bait in streams, 

 when the waters are very low. 



The line must be thrown across the stream, 

 and the bait kept in continual motion, by spin- 

 ning it towards the angler. The action in strik- 

 ing must be perpendicular, or there will be a risk 

 of the bait being drawn from the mouth of the 

 fish ; the rod must be then kept upright, and the 

 fish played in the same manner as before de- 

 scribed. Nobbe's Treatise on this subject, lately 



