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THE TACKLE. 



Minnows of all sizes are taken by trout and other 

 fish of prey, and, therefore, all sizes of them are good 

 natural baits, when proportionate tackle can be attached 

 to them. 



IST. The old original small lip and large bottom 

 (or spit) hook is the simplest minnow tackle, and many 

 good minnow fishers use it in preference to any 

 other ; it is applicable to all sizes, the bottom hook 

 being in proportion to the size of the minnow, and at 

 proportionate distance from the lip. The principle may 

 be extended to the gudgeon, &c. for pike fishing ; the 

 hooks whipped tight and even with small strong silk, 

 to the end of a small sound piece of gut, the other 

 end put twice through one of the holes of a lilliput 

 swivel and fastened with a double knot, taking in the 

 gut below, and drawn tight up to the swivel. One end 

 of a line of gut six or eight feet long must be fast- 

 ened in the same way to the upper end of the swivel, 

 the other end of the gut is to link to the wheel line ; 

 three or more split shot sinkers must be fixed on the 

 gut, eight or nine inches above the hooks. 



The point of the bottom hook is put into the mouth,, 

 and run down the inside of the minnow, the point and 

 barb to come out on the side betwixt the vent and the 

 tail. The body drawn straight over the lapping or shank 

 of the hook, and the tail part rest in the curve, which 



