102 TROUT FISHING 



minnow is impaired by the addition of any hooks 

 to those it originally has when it comes from the 

 maker's hands. 



As a general rule, I think that these kill-devils, 

 or artificial minnows, are not sufficiently heavily 

 armed as to hooks. In some I find a want of 

 proper arming at the head, in others at the 

 tail, and too frequently the spinning of the bait 

 has been more attended to than the surety of 

 hooking the fish that may run at it. Again, in 

 some of these baits, the hooks are tied down and 

 firmly fixed so close to the minnow itself, that 

 though they may prick a trout running at it, they 

 yet will not readily enter so deeply as to gain a 

 sure hold in the fish. I like to have a triplet at 

 the head of the bait, as I have seen that trout very 

 frequently dash at this part of their prey, and if 

 the bait will spin well with it, I put on a triplet 

 tied to a piece of fine gut, long enough to let it 

 extend from two to three inches beyond the tail 

 triplet ; this is of no service when the trout are 

 taking well, but when they are running often and 

 stopping just short of the bait, I think it occa- 

 sionally pays out some of these fish for want of 

 proper resolution. 



As these artificial baits can be procured at a 

 low rate from either of the fishing-tackle makers 

 I have mentioned, I need not detain the reader 

 longer in considering them. 



As regards the best tackle for the natural minnow, 

 perhaps none exceeds the following: first, a single 

 lip hook, having attached to it by means of a short 



