THE SALMON. 
57 
the afternoon, when there is a light breeze on the water. 
When not on feed they retreat to deep water, and also under 
banks, bushes, &c. The best time for angling for them is 
from May until August. In July and August they will often 
take the fly freely ; for the months of May and June, worms, 
shrimp, or small fish, will be found the best baits. 
Bait-fishing for Salmon is generally practised with a rod 
of from sixteen to eighteen feet in length, with a hollow butt 
and spare tops, either for worm or minnow fishing. Some 
sportsmen prefer a lighter top for worm fishing than for spin- 
ning the minnow ; the hollow butt allows him to use his 
taste, ami also the advantage of extra tops against breakage. 
There are two ways of rigging the rod for the line — the old- 
fashioned plan of rings, whipped on with thread, is preferred 
by some, and the patent guide, a solid stationary ring, (a new 
invention) by others. Attached to the rod should be a multi- 
plying reel, capable of holding from three to six hundred 
feet of line ; to insure success with large game, the largest 
sized reel, with six hundred feet of line, should be used. The 
line adapted to the reel should be either of silk, hair, silk and 
hair, or grass. The two former descriptions are most in use, 
but the latter is now preferred by many on account of its 
strength, durability, and lightness. Affixed to the line should 
be a swivel sinker, and a leader, either of single or twisted gut, 
of from three to six feet in length, according to the depth of 
water. For middle fishing, use a large size float of cork or 
red cedar. The proper size of hook should be No. 0, 1,2, 3, 
of the Kirby or Limerick pattern, attached to single or twisted 
gut. A very few Anglers use gimp instead of gut, but the 
show it makes in the water, both from its size and color, pre- 
clude the idea of mnch success. From the timid nature of 
the object of your sport, your tackle should combine strength 
with imperccptibilitv. 
For Fly-Fishing for Salmon, the customary rod used is 
