384 ,:-. SALMON AND TROUT. 



always carry in my trolling-case a few common ' plummets ' of 

 rolled sheet lead, of different weights, which can be attached 

 and detached in a few seconds without disengaging the trace 

 from the line. This is not so neat as a proper lead, but it 

 answers the purpose sufficiently well at a pinch. 



After thorough practical experiment, I can recommend the 

 foregoing flight, trace, and system of leads and swivels, as com- 

 prising the maximum of fineness, simphcity, and efficacy, and I 

 feel convinced that those who try it fairly, and exactly as here 

 described, will never use any other. 



For the convenience of any of my readers desirous of try- 

 ing the tackle, Messrs. Farlow have the complete patterns. 



Dressed on larger hooks— and either with or without the 

 second or tail-triangle — and with correspondingly longer lead, 

 the same flight will be found a capital one for pike-spinning 

 where small baits are used, the hooks in this case being tied on 

 six or seven inches of fine clouded gimp, or twisted gut. A 

 gudgeon is the pike-bait which the flight spins best, and that 

 of a medium size, say 4^ inches. With longer leads, &c., it 

 will, however, spin a full-sized gudgeon up to 5^ inches (nose 

 to tip of tail-fin). 



Of artificial spinning baits for salmon, Brown's Phantom 

 Minnows still appear to command the greatest number of 

 suffrages ; and Major Traherne lately told me that on occasions 

 he had found a good-sized spoon — rigged with end triangle 

 only — a killing bait both in still and running water. My own 

 experience of artificial spinning baits for salmon is not large, 

 and as far as it goes is all in favour of the natural rather tlian 

 the artificial. 



In all lake spinning both for salmon and trout, a very long 

 line out behind the boat, say from 40 to 50 yards, and where 

 depth admits or indicates it, even 60 or 70 yards, is very 

 advisable. Consequently it is best, with a view to a ' reserve,' 

 to have from 120 to 140 yards of line on the reel. Half of this 

 should be of dressed silk, not very stout, and by using plenty 



