166 COLOUR OF TROLLING HOOKS. 



larger for the deep-breasted roach or dace ; and 

 you must insert it, by the bottom of the back fin, 

 on the side of it towards the shoulder, between the 

 skin and the flesh. Some insert the hook through 

 the lips, but I do not fancy that way, as it 

 impedes the motions of the bait, and speedily 

 exhausts its vitality. When the bait is hooked on 

 near the fin, it would be advisable to penetrate a 

 slight portion of the flesh with the hook, to prevent 

 the bait escaping by its own efforts, or to be 

 snatched off with impunity by hasty pike or perch. 

 Hooks used in trolling should not be coloured 

 blue ; they should be allowed to remain bright like 

 steel as they are. They should be whipped on 

 the hook with white silk, waxed brilliantly of 

 the same colour. 



In sinking and roving allow your bait to swim 

 here and there, generally at mid-water, but in 

 deep places, deeper, drawing it up gently to the 

 surface of the water now and then, letting it sink 

 again, and guiding it to the best-looking spots of 

 the locality. Your float will soon inform you of 

 a run, and you must strike pretty promptly unless 

 when the run is that of a pike. Then you must 

 allow your bait to be taken away and pouched 

 before you strike. From five to seven minutes 

 is the pouching time allowed by me, and I find it 

 quite long enough. Some excellent anglers 

 allow ten minutes before they strike. That length 

 of time can be only necessary occasionally, when 



