FISHING WITH MINNOW. 145 



brought out at the root of its tail. The small one 

 serves principally to hook its mouth and hold it on ; 

 or the minnow may be reversed, with the same 

 chance of success the large hook entered at its tail 

 and brought out at its mouth, and the small one 

 hooked through the gristly part at the root of its 

 tail. As many lead shot are put on the line, a foot 

 or two above the minnow, as will make it keep half 

 sunk in travelling. Swivels are also necessary on 

 the line, to prevent it twisting, although what is 

 called "spinning the minnow" intentionally, is non- 

 sense. It is just thrown in nearly straight across, 

 and allowed to travel slowly round, like the salmon 

 worm-bait, in about mid-depth of water, with only 

 as much movement of the rod as to prevent it sink- 

 ing and catching at the bottom. The trout seizes it 

 sometimes with a dash, but more generally foHows 

 it slyly, and snaps it, getting himself hooked before 

 the angler actually perceives him, which renders any 

 idea of striking him absolutely ridiculous. The 

 natural retention of the hand in fishing is generally 

 sufficient to fix the hook in any fish without inten- 

 tionally striking ; and in all angling it is proper to 

 depend more on feeling than on sight.* For salmon, 



* In angling with fly for trout, especially in clear water, we con- 

 sider sight of much more importance than feeling. The expertest 

 fly anglers we know "hook" the troutsas they see them rise. [EDR.J 



