DIP MINNOW-TROLLING. 139 



DIP MINNOW-TROLLING, OR SINK AND DRAW. 



Mr. Stoddart next goes on to say 



" A tackle similar to the above may be used in standing pools 

 or lochs ; here, however, the shank of the hook (a long one) is 

 loaded, and the bait allowed to descend rapidly towards the bot- 

 tom. Large cautious fish are sometimes taken by this method of 

 angling." 



Of the efficiency of this kind of trolling I can speak 

 with the greatest confidence, and consider it the method 

 par excellence for all still waters, whether they be the 

 sluggish deeps of a river, loch, or deep pond ; the 

 principal requirements being, that the water in which it 

 is conducted must be of sufficient depth, say not less 

 than four or five feet, and nearly still. 



The tackle may also be considerably varied accord- 

 ing to fancy, but all bear a close resemblance to that 

 used in pike-trolling, only upon a smaller scale, as it is 

 conducted in a precisely similar manner. Some prefer 

 a single long-shanked bait-hook, with about one inch of 

 its shank covered with lead ; when the gut to which it 

 is attached is to be drawn in at the mouth, and out at 

 the tail of the bait, by means of a baiting-needle, and 

 the barb of the hook retained in the centre of the mouth 

 (projecting upwards), by means of a stitch of silk on each 

 side. Another stitch, including both the back-bone of 

 the bait at the fork of the tail and the gut as well, 

 will retain it straight on the line, and the whole is ready 

 for action. Or two hooks may be soldered or whipped 

 back to back, at an angle of 45, to a length of good 



