175 



you may strike almost as soon as he litcs. This should 

 frideed be more taken as a guide \vhen fishing for the pre- 

 datory tribe, than it seems to be $ for it is obvious, that 

 those which have small mouths, however ravenous iii 

 their dispositions, cannot so soon gorge the bait. 



Of this the I arid is a strong instance > while, on the 

 other hand, we find that little fish, the miller's- thumb, or 

 lull- head, owing to its capacious jaws, almost invariably 

 gorges the bait at once, and gives some trouble to get die 

 hook out. But when you rove for salmon-trouts, you 

 must be guided by the feel of your line, as directed in a 

 former instance. 



This fish does not readily take a tripping- 1 alt, any 

 more than the salmon $ therefore never use a float for 

 them, but have one good shot about a foot from your 

 hook : if the water is deep and rapid, two, or eventually 

 three, may be necessary to keep your bait down. 



When you hook a salmon-trout, give him line, for he 

 is both strong and impetuous : be careful not to let him 

 get down too deep, where the bottom is rocky, or in 

 other respects foul ; for he will endeavour to entangle 

 your line, and thus give you the slip. 



These fishes take the JLy freely during the summer, 

 but are apt to be very shy when their spawning season is 

 at hand. I have remarked, that they are partial to a red- 

 spinner, and to such double-winged flies as are made of 

 deep brown, or black, covering drab- colours, or tawny. 



They sometimes take a dropper - } that is, one put on at 

 some distance from your stretcher, or end-fly, by means 

 of a short piece of gut, looping on above a knot. See 

 Fly-Fishing. 



The salmon-trout is, however, like the salmon, during 

 1 4 the 



