.70 -TRACE. 



season until April, on the first of which month 

 the spinning" season commences, and ends in 

 September. In the Lea, and almost all other 

 rivers, the season does not begin till the first 

 of May. In nearly all, the Perch season com- 

 mences in June. 



Spinning for Trout and Perch is practised in 

 precisely the same manner as for Jack ; finer 

 tackle, and much smaller baits and flights of 

 hooks, must, of course, be used. 



The rod I use is of mottled cane, about 

 twelve feet in length, in four pieces, and with 

 extra tops. The rod should be light, and 

 rather springy, as the bait and trace being- 

 rather light (unless when fishing the tails of 

 weirs), the spring of the rod will be found of 

 great assistance in throwing the bait. 



The bronzed check-winch is the best for 

 spinning ; it should be sufficiently large to 

 carry eighty or a hundred yards of fine pre- 

 pared running-line, which should be as fine as 

 possible, having due regard to safety ; in the 

 Thames, and similar large rivers, a hundred 

 yards will not be found too much, but in small 

 rivers the length of the line may be propor- 

 tioned to the water. 



We now come to the Trace : this should be 

 of gut, with four swivels, and from eight to 

 thirteen or fourteen shots (according to the 

 depth of the water and strength of the stream) 

 in the middle of the trace, which in length 

 should be a couple of yards. In the Thames 



