84 CATCHING THE WILY SEA-TROUT 



I have no hesitation in recommending to you this style 

 of working. Even if you are experienced and have been 

 trained in another school, I suggest that you give the 

 ideas which I have detailed an extensive trial and then 

 compare the new results with those that you achieved 

 previously. Should your old methods have given to you 

 greater satisfaction, you can easily return to them and 

 be in a better position to offer an opinion on the respective 

 merits of both ways of spinning. 



I am often asked why I adhere to the slotless metal 

 minnow carrying only one treble at the tail. The answer 

 is simple : I know that this pattern meets all my re- 

 quirements. I have a notion that the type with 

 one treble spins more sweetly than the slotted variety 

 furnished with four trebles, or even the slotless one 

 supplied with two trebles at the tail. Further, the single 

 treble is not so likely to gather weed or to foul roots as 

 is the one with four trebles. Again, my favourite seems 

 to me to be a better pretender than one garnished with 

 many hooks. Another advantage of the minnow with 

 one treble is that it is so easily assembled ; this is purely 

 a personal reason, as I make my own traces ; and, in 

 addition to effecting laudable economy, I find that the 

 benefits of m'y special tool outweigh those of shop articles. 



For many years I have refrained from using the four 

 treble pattern. Not only does that one savour too much 

 of ironmongery to please me, but when at the initial 

 stage of casting you are endeavouring to avoid a treble 

 forming contact with contiguous brambles and shrubs, 

 the hooks are apt to seek your clothing. To remove 

 your jacket for the purpose of releasing an offending 

 barb is but a small inconvenience, but when a treble 

 connects with the rear of your breeches, you may be 

 excused for offering your opinion in a voluble and an 

 unequivocal manner. 



