206 THE MINNOW-SPINNING ROD. 



bait, and, as when they do, you cannot hook them 

 by means of one double hook only at the vent, add 

 a double fly-hook to lie along the bait towards the 

 tail, and a little beyond it. I advise my young 

 friends to use this latter tackle when they begin 

 practising the art of spinning. They will find it 

 very efficient, and it is very easily baited. The 

 reason fly -hooks are of such general use in spin- 

 ningis, that it is supposed from the run-away 

 motion of the bait, fish of prey run after it and 

 seize it tailways rather than middle-ways, and 

 therefore are likely to be caught by the fly-hooks 

 at the tail. I do not deem this reason very sound. 

 Still let us adhere to fly-hooks as an additional, 

 though not a very necessary weapon of success. 



I have mentioned the trolling and spinning 

 rods best suited, in my opinion, for angling for 

 large fish. We should have an especial rod for 

 minnow-spinning. It should not be so stout by 

 any means as the usual trolling rods, but it 

 should be longer. Fourteen feet is a fair average 

 length. I would have this rod made of the best 

 mottled cane in all its joints, except the top one, 

 which should be of a good stiffish bit of hickory, 

 or solid bamboo, tipped with a couple of inches of 

 light whalebone. This rod should be ringed with 

 moderate sized upright rings, and will answer, if 

 well made, for bottom fishing with the worm or 

 gentle, for dibbing or daping, and particularly for 



