SALMON -ANGLING. 79 



of the superiority of the spinning, as well as the lesser 

 risk of missing the fish. 



When the diminishing water prevents the salmon from 

 rising at the par, you may still succeed with minnow, in 

 the streams, especially about dusk. Yery large trout, 

 also, that scarcely ever rise to a fly, dash freely after the 

 minnow when the sun is down. They may also take it 

 in the daytime, if the water should be a little swollen 

 and the sky cloudy. But the river salmon-fisher is more 

 indebted to bait than either par or minnow ; and for this 

 reason, that salmon will take a worm when the river is so 

 low that they refuse all other kinds of prey. In river- 

 angling a large hook should be used, and a mixture of 

 dew-worms and the small red, or the brandling if it can 

 be procured. The bait should be massy, nearly as thick 

 as your little finger. This is accomplished by pushing up 

 all the odds and ends of the worms you put on, along the 

 shank of the hook and the gut, more or less, according to 

 the angler's fancy. In rapid running water, a good lump 

 of bait is more easily seen from a distance, and if a 

 fresh worm be put on the point of the hook, the imposture 

 cannot well be detected in the moving stream. Lead the 

 line to reach within a yard or so of the bottom, and search 

 every inch of pool and stream, noticing the slightest tug. 

 When you perceive the least straightening of the line, 

 always go over the same inch until you either fix the fish, 

 or disgust him. Never be in a hurry with a large fish : 

 give him time if possible to gorge. A good hold is half 

 the battle with a good salmon, as, in a long-continued 



