174 



MINNOW AND PARR-TAIL FISHING. 



otherwise take the minnow ; and secondly and 

 mainly, the drag captured at the first rise numbers 

 of trout which would have repeated their attack 

 and been caught by the minnow-tackle proper. On 

 no occasion did we catch more without the drag 

 than with it, but we think it quite possible, that in 

 very clear water, and among very wary trout, the 

 drag might alarm them ; and that if it is not catch- 

 ing a fair proportion say at least one in four it 

 may safely be dispensed with. 



The following illustration shows the minnow- 

 tackle, and also a view of the minnow when baited. 



In baiting, take the large hook, and, entering it 

 at the mouth of the minnow, run it right through 

 the body, and bring it out about a quarter of an 

 inch from the tail, leaving the minnow as nearly as 

 possible in the curve represented in the foregoing 

 figure. The object of having the minnow in a 

 curved form, is that it may turn round when it is 

 drawn against the stream, and this can be better 

 accomplished by a small curvature than a large one. 

 If the body of the minnow is almost doubled up, 



