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, simplicity, 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 44 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 than 
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 
