88 Method of Minnow Trolling. 



action in striking must be perpendicular, or a little down 

 stream, or you will run the risk of drawing the Minnow 

 from the fish instead of killing him with it, should he 

 rise short. When the fish is hooked, the rod should be 

 held upright, as much as possible, by poking the butt of 

 it, as it were, at him : thus the line will have the full 

 play of the rod to ease it, and will hold a heavier fish in 

 this position than in any other. 



To make your cast, have your line and tackle about a 

 yard longer than your rod, that it may be under full 

 command. Take the Minnow in your left hand, having 

 your rod in your right, the p'oint turned to the left, and 

 about a half a yard from the ground or water ; then 

 raise your rod, passing it outwards and upwards as you 

 let go the Minnow, at the same time aiming the point of 

 the rod to pass over the place, as it were, that you wish 

 the bait to fall upon. When it is nearly out at full 

 stretch, drop the point of your rod down again to within 

 a few inches of the water, and the bait will fall not far 

 from the place you intend. We will suppose that it has 

 done so. Then, sometimes by short and sudden jerks of 

 the rod, sometimes by steadier and longer pulls, force 

 your bait along, either up, down, or across the stream, 

 &c. as you may deem likely for a fish. It is always good 

 to troll downwards across the stream when fish are shy. 

 Drop in your Minnow gently, a little above any likely 

 hold, let it sink a little, then, keeping your rod close to 

 the water, jerk it easily, as above described, and be sure 

 to keep it continually under the water and spinning as 

 quickly as possible. Do not neglect to fish it well out to 

 the edges of the water, because, in coloured water espe- 

 cially, most fish are caught near the edges, these being 

 the haunts of the Minnow. You can scarcely fish too 

 deep, if you only clear the ground. Never regret your 

 bait being out of sight, though it is much pleasanter to 



