VARIOUS BAITS FOR SALMON 245 



but it sounds like a risk one would not like to try, and I only 

 mention it for what it is worth. 



Salmon are often caught by worm, minnow, prawn, and 

 artificial bait. The worm is employed by means of a large 

 hook capable of holding two or three lob worms. These 

 should be threaded on the hook so that their tails may hang 

 down from the hook, and form a good big bunch or mass of 

 worm-meat. Three or four heavy swan shot or a sinker, 

 equal to the weight of the stream, should be used ; the worm 

 pitched well above the " lie " of the fish, and allowed to 

 travel freely along the bottom. When you have a bite, be 

 not in too great a hurry, as the salmon does not bolt his prey 

 instantly, but give him time, and when you think he has had 

 time to get the bait in his mouth, a sharp, steady, but not 

 too violent, tug will put you en rapport with him. Then look 

 out for squalls, and do the best you can with him. The min- 

 now, par-tail, and artificial baits are used, in much the same way 

 as I have already pointed out, for trout. And the natural 

 or artificial prawn, baited on one large hook, and cast and 

 worked by sinking and drawing, is a deadly bait on very many 

 rivers. I once hooked a good fish in the Gal way river with the 

 Archimedean minnow, being induced to try it by seeing the 

 small fry flying from the water as though a pike were after 

 them. Usually, however, I do not care to use anything but 

 the fly. On this occasion, however, I had tried it all day 

 futilely, and unquestionably the salmon were feeding on some 

 small fry as I saw them " fly " again and again. 



While on this subject I may also say that I have seen salmon 

 feed greedily on the little eels which during " eel fare " run 

 up rivers. These facts, combined with their taking both 

 worms and minnow, when they can get it, quite assure me 

 that the notion that salmon do not feed when in fresh water, 

 which so generally prevails, is extremely incorrect. Salmon 

 do not perhaps feed very voraciously, because in salmon 

 rivers, as a general rule, food, and particularly in the heavy 

 waters salmon inhabit, is not very abundant, and the salmon 

 is not given to roaming about far from home in search of 

 food ; but I very much question if anything passes his lair 

 within eye-shot, which is at all worth his notice, that he does 

 not take stock or toll of. 



The spoon is also a capital artificial lure for salmon, and, 

 in trolling upon lakes, is often employed with great success. 

 Otters and crosslines are both means of taking salmon. In 



