SPINNING AND BAIT FISHING. 409 



similar to that already described, but substituting for the 

 swivel-compeller a fixed underhung lead — pipe-shaped perhaps 

 best — five or six feet above the bait. The weight of the 

 lead must of course vary according to circumstances. One of 

 the best, at any rate so far as shape is concerned, is that 

 shown in the cut, with a set of double swivels attached, but 

 the latter are figured unnecessarily large. 



LEAD AND SWIVELS COMBINED. (FarlOW.) 



In all lake spinning the best plan, nineteen times out of 

 twenty, is to trail the bait behind the boat, and the farther 

 off, within reason, the better. On getting a ' run ' the fish 

 ought to be at once sharply struck, and the boat almost 

 stopped. 



In artificial baits of all sorts I personally have not a very 

 robust belief. As, however, natural baits cannot always be 

 obtained, and as other fishermen's experiences perhaps differ 

 from mine, I may mention one or two of the artificial baits 

 which seem to possess special recommendations. 



First, there is the time-honoured ' phantom minnow,' both 

 blue and brown, which has many admirers, and after that 

 follows an army of less known nondescripts of all kinds, 

 ' Archimedians,' 'water witches,' ■'mermaids,' 'Halcyon spin- 

 ners,' ' Premier spinners,' ' Excelsior spinners,' ' Cleopatra 

 baits,' ' quill minnows,' ' Archimedian minnows,' and spoon 

 baits, plain, fluted, twisted, and of every conceivable variety 

 and pattern. Each or all of these may or may not be good ; 

 unfortunately the life of any one fisherman is too short to give 

 even a fraction of them a fair trial, and in selecting his artificial 

 baits, every spinner will, perhaps, be wise to follow his own 

 particular fancies. 



