BEST WEATHER FOE USING THE MINNOW. 181 



trout generally take most readily in the afternoon, 

 from two or three to six, or even later ; but in June 

 and July, the early morning, and the evening from 

 a little before sunset till midnight, and sometimes 

 on till daylight, are the best times. .Should, how- 

 ever, the weather be very coarse, it is useless fishing 

 either in the morning or at night, and the trout 

 will take most readily during the early part of the 

 day. 



At all seasons, and at all hours, and in all con- 

 ditions of water unless, perhaps, in a full flood, 

 when an occasional blink of sunshine is beneficial 

 we prefer dark weather for trouting with the min- 

 now ; and in June and July the weather can hardly 

 be too coarse. 



In warm summer nights the minnow is a very 

 deadly bait, and should be fished with in quiet still 

 water, and about the shallow water at the foot and 

 edges of pools, as trout cruise about among such 

 places all night. 



The parr-tail may almost be considered as a sub- 

 stitute for the minnow, and it is a very deadly lure 

 for large trout in large rivers, particularly when they 

 are flooded, but in small streams we have never 

 found it of much use. It is unnecessary to instruct 

 the reader in the method of capturing parr; in Tweed, 

 or any other stream where they are numerous, he 

 will generally get far more than he wishes. They 

 frequent the thin water, and take most readily in a 

 sunny day. 



