154 CASTING AND PLAYING THE MINNOW. 



of the current ; and where those in search of minnows 

 instinctively know their prey is to be found ; and in 

 the entrances to backwaters from the main river ; at the 

 mouths of rivulets, ditches, etc. It is of no avail fishing 

 in the powerful current of the main stream at such a 

 time, as every fish will have abandoned it for the place 

 of refuge described ; and nothing less powerful of fin 

 than a Newfoundland cod-fish would remain there for 

 a moment. But in fishing the eddies and shallows, it 

 is always necessary to cast the bait well into the current 

 beyond, and then draw it adroitly through them, in 

 order not to disturb the spot where the fish are expected 

 to lie. In the ordinary state of the river, places where 

 the current beats upon, or runs by the side of overhanging 

 banks, bushes, roots of trees, or large stones, or behind 

 piles, are favourite haunts of large trout ; and in such 

 places allow the current to carry down the bait slowly 

 and gradually towards and past them, keeping it 

 spinning rapidly all the while by a moderate action of 

 the rod against the current. The minnow will thus 

 appear to the fish to be making most strenuous efforts 

 to escape up stream, but being unable to stem the current, 

 falls as it were an unresisting victim into their very 

 jaws. In this manner we may often succeed in tempt- 

 ing some of the over-fed and indolent gluttons to take 

 the bait. 



CASTING AND PLAYING THE MINNOW. 



On approaching one of those pattern pools above 

 mentioned, take your stand as far from the water as 



