THE TROUT. 
87 
your fly-line, will be sufficient. Some Anglers use a rod 20 
feet long. To enable them to fish a wide stream, this length 
of rod is necessary, as the line, in spinning the minnow, is 
somewhat short of the rod; if you wade the stream, a rod of 
12 feet will be long enough. 
u For Bailing with the Minnow. In the first place, pro- 
cure a piece of brass wire, about three inches long ; one end 
of which must be hammered into a small loop, and the other 
ond flattened with a hammer, and sharpened in the shape of 
a spear head. This must be drawn through a tapering piece 
of lead,* cast for the purpose. Wires of this description may 
be kept by you, of different lengths, to suit the size of the 
bait-fish used. 
“ Enter the spear end of the leaded wire at the mouth of 
the minnow, and bring it out at the fork of the tail. Then 
take a triangular hook, formed by tying together three No. 8 
or 9 hooks on a piece of strong gut, one inch and a quarter 
long, with a small loop on the end. Now', with a baiting- 
needle, enter the point under the back fin of the bait, when 
one of the triangular hooks will enter the bait under the back 
fin, the other two will lie by its sides, and the loop of the 
gut will be even with the brass loop in the minnow’s mouth. 
11 You must now prepare a minnow-trace, of three yards of 
gut, at one end of which tie on a Limerick hook No. 9 ; 12 
inches above this, place a fine swivel, and 24 inches higher 
up another swivel, and your trace is ready. Next, enter the 
hook at the end of your trace, at the back of the bait’s head, 
and pass it through the two loops now in its mouth, and 
bring it out under the lips, when the bait’s mouth will bo 
closed. Then, bend gently the spear of brass wire, so as to 
gently curve the tail of the minnow, and then tie the tail fast to 
the wire with white thread, and you are ready for the stream.” 
* Theso articles can be purchased at the tacklo stores, of different 
sizes and descriptions. 
