214 A BOOK ON ANGLING 



the general plan, but I adopt a much better one, and get out 

 more line than can be got out in this way, by adopting the 

 method described at page 45 in Nottingham dace-fishing. 

 By this plan the angler can get out nearly twice the length 

 of his rod ; and that is enough to work pleasantly with. 



Some fishermen fish up-stream and some down ; but though 

 drawing down-stream has some advantages, yet in doing so 

 the angler must spin faster than is quite advisable. To throw 

 slantwise across and downwards when the water is at all 

 coloured, and upwards, perhaps, when it is clear, if it be found 

 desirable from the shyness of the fish, may be considered the 

 best plan generally. I do not like spinning the minnow either 

 directly up or down-stream. If the angler is wading, he can 

 either wade down or up, according to the above rule, casting 

 upon either hand as he goes, and drawing the bait round into 

 the stream below with a steady and moderately fast sweep. 

 While the bait is making the bend round into the stream is, 

 in nine times out of ten, the moment when the fish takes it. 

 Do not spin too fast, or you run away from the fish, but spin 

 just fast enough to make the bait spin well, which it should 

 do easily. If a fish makes a dash in the water at the bait, 

 but misses it, spin steadily on as though he had not done so, 

 and he may come again. For although a trout may once in a 

 way take a bait when it is checked (and I have known them 

 even to pick it off the bottom), yet a sudden stoppage is more 

 likely to alarm than reassure the already shy fish. There 

 are only certain parts of a stream where fish take the minnow 

 well ; for instance, in the rough water at the head of the 

 stream for a few yards, and again, though not so well, at the 

 extreme tail ; the body of the stream seldom gives many fish. 

 I do not mean to say that the angler will not get one now and 

 then, particularly if the fish are plentiful ; but by far the best 

 place for the minnow is the first few yards of each stream.* 

 Dull pools, as a matter of course, are not commended for 

 minnow, though at times any water will give fish to the minnow 

 if they are there ; but sharp rattling or swiftly gliding water 

 is far preferable. 



When a fish runs, some anglers hit him hard, and some 

 raise the point of the rod and tighten the line, and hold on to 



* This, of course, applies chiefly to streams where minnow is habitually 

 used. In streams where it is not commonly used the trout will take it almost 

 anywhere, even in almost still water for a time ; but they soon become 

 aware of it. F. F, 



