Bull-head and Loach Fishing. 83 



piece of worm, or a maggot, put on to a small fly-hook 

 with the barb broken off, to save the mouth and bruising 

 of the Minnow when taking it out. Minnows taken from 

 such places are more silvery and better than those found 

 in the thin streams of rivers, hence called Streamers, which 

 have red fins and are tinted with all the colours of the 

 rainbow, the bellies being of a dusky golden hue ; beau- 

 tiful little fellows indeed, but very inferior to those of the 

 silver-belly for trolling. Where Minnows cannot be 

 procured, the stickle-back, loach, and bull-head or miller's 

 thumb may be substituted. The miller's thumb should 

 have the two pectoral or breast fins and back fin cut off, 

 and the stickle-back should be deprived of this last- 

 named appendage. Very large trout are often killed 

 with both the bull-head and the loach. They should be 

 fished closer to the bottom than the Minnow, therefore the 

 line will require heavier shotting or leading. The bull- 

 head is much used by Anglers on the Weald and higher 

 parts of Tees, and is a very great favourite with them. 

 They sometimes cut it into pieces and bait it like a worm ; 

 when cut up it resembles a gray snail. The same Anglers 

 assert that trout cannot be taken by trolling with the Min- 

 now in the Weald, as I have before mentioned, and none 

 are found there, though the bull-head and, I believe, loach 

 are plentiful. It is also stated that there are no eels in 

 the Weald. The first account, if true, is rather curious, 

 as one would imagine that all small fish bred in% fresh 

 waters were food for, and would be taken by trout ; and 

 I am inclined to think that if trolling failed, the live 

 Minnow would there take some noble fish. 



Minnow trolling may be practised thte whole season, 

 especially in early morning, and is capital exercise both 

 for body and arm, for the latter is kept in full play and 

 the former moving on, while the bait is in a continual 

 spin or troll. 



