Trout page 2

Next in order are the flights of Hooks, of which there are a great variety. The one I use consists of three triangle hooks, a sliding lip hook and a reverse hook, mounted on gut, as in the sketch. Drawings of other flights will be found in the chapter on Pike fishing, smaller sizes of which, mounted on gut instead of gimp, answer equally well for Trout; of these No. 1 is the same pattern as already mentioned, but has a fly triangle, Nos. 2 and 3 are without the reverse hook; of these No. 1 is the best. The manner of baiting with minnow, small bleak or gudgeon, will be obvious on looking at the sketch foregoing.

The Water-Witch described at Page 26, made sufficiently small and mounted on gut will be found a first-rate trout tackle; easy to bait and spinning well.

There are two other very good spinning tackle, somewhat similar in appearance when baited, but differing greatly in construction and in the mode of baiting. We take first, because it is the oldest, (and not because it is the best), the one known as " Hawkers Tackle." It. is in this form: a large fine minnow trolling-hook is whipped to a length of gut; about half an-inch from the end of the shank of it, is whipped a No. 8 lip-hook; to the lip-hook is also fastened a short piece of gut, of sufficient length to reach to the end of the large hook. A small triangle is now whipped to the end of the short piece, and the tackle is completed by looping the long gut.

To bait it: the point of the large hook is inserted in the mouth of a large bright minnow, which is now to be threadled up the hook, the point of which is brought out at the centre of the tail. The small lip hook is run through both lips, and the bait is completed by sliding down the gut a small hollow lead cap which fits close on the nose of the minnow. The triangle flies loose over the tail.

The other tackle is the " Francis." A Drawing of it is annexed, which will almost explain itself. First, there is a large fine minnow-hook on gut; next, there is a lip-hook with fly triangle attached, the lip-hook being furnished with a small gut-loop at each end of the shank. To bait it: the large hook is attached to a baiting-needle by means of a loop at the end of the gut; the needle is then entered in the centre of the tail of a minnow or other small bait, pushed through and brought out at the mouth, the gut being drawn through till the hook is covered by the minnow; the tail of which, will thus receive its proper curve. Remove the needle and pass the loop of the long gut, through the small loops on the lip-hook, which is then run through both lips, and the bait will appear much the same as " Hawker's Tackle Baited " but is of course without the lead cap.

The baits for small streams may be either minnows, or small, bright gudgeons. I prefer the latter, as they spin better and last longer, whereas the minnows soon tear and become useless. For larger streams, I use a small bleak, which has, -when properly placed on the hooks, a very bright and star-like appearance in the water, although, like the minnow, it soons wears out, unless used with great care. The bait should be always placed on the hooks with a scrupulous regard to its spinning truly, for I have always found that the better the bait spins, the better the Trout likes it, and as a matter of course, the greater the chance of success.

Of the artificial baits, the minnow, spinning by means of the Pectoral fin and mounted on gut, I have found one of the most successful: killing with it large Trout and Perch, when they had decidedly refused the natural bait. The " Sensation " bait is equally good when the water is slightly coloured. The other artificial baits, may be used for Trout and Perch, when made on a small scale and mounted on gut.

To throw the Spinning bait, draw from the winch as much line as you deem necessary to reach the distance you intend to throw; commence with ten or fifteen yards; when you are able to throw that length of line neatly, then increase it a yard or two at a time. A master of the art will throw from forty to fifty yards of line, but on no account have out more line than you can conveniently manage; if you do, it will only be in your way, and when fishing from the bank will be sure to catch up loose twigs and grass. Drawing the requisite length of line from your winch, let it fall in loose coils in front of your left foot. Hold the rod firmly in the right hand about eighteen inches up the butt; the wooden button on the socket of which should be kept tight to the hip; draw the line in with the thumb and two first fingers of the left hand, till the bait hangs about, five or six feet from the top of the rod. Bring the point of the rod, round to the right, to give the bait the necessary swing, and throw the bait sharply to the left (or vice versa, as occasion may require) at the same time letting free the line in the left hand; still keeping the butt tight to the hip. The bait will then be carried out to the full extent of the line, the coiled portion running freely through the rings.

As soon as the bait, enters the water, spin it either across or against the stream; in fact, in any direction that the nature of the place may render most convenient to yourself. The line, which is now held lightly in the same hand as the rod, should be drawn through the right hand, about a couple of feet at a time, by the thumb and the two first fingers of the left hand; coiling it at the feet as before. Keep the rod steady with the point about a foot from the surface of the water, holding it in such a manner that the top may keep a slight strain upon the line, which should not be drawn in too fast at each backward motion of the left hand. The beginner in the art should learn the method of gathering up the line in the left hand as practised by the Thames puntmen, he will find it extremely useful when fishing from a weir. " Let him observe a first-rate Thames Spinner standing on the top of a weir (a performance requiring rather a strong head and good nerves) casting his bait into the foaming torrent below; now gathering up the line with the thumb and little finger of the left hand, and again throwing out the spinning-bait from a twelve or thirteen feet rod with the right hand, at the same time letting go the gathered line, and spinning the bait across the eddies in a masterly manner, while the left hand is again collecting the line for another throw. All this should be seen to be admired and imitated, for no description can do it anything like justice." This? was my advice in " Spinning and Trolling " to the novice in the art, and I can only repeat that the best way to become proficient is to observe and imitate a first-class fisherman. Although, when spinning, the fish will often hook himself, yet it is safer to strike with a short and moderately strong jerk of the wrist as soon as the bait is taken; playing and landing him secundum artem.

June, July and August are the best months for using the worm. Fish with a light, thirteen feet cane rod. Nr- with upright rings, and a very fine running line. If the water is very clear, the best places would be under bushes, or by the side of piles, &c. The worm may be used either with or without a float, should you intend fishing with a float, use a small quill, ascertaining the depth as directed in " Perch Fishing;" keep if possible a few yards above your swim, and occasionally throw in a few worms chopped extremely small. The bottom line should be of the finest gut, and the hook about No. 5 for a worm: or No. 9 if for gentles, when baiting with these, throw in a few carrion gentles, new and then, at the head of the swim. When fishing without a float, let the stream carry the bait down, and strike when you feel a bite; this method is very successful w hen using a large artificial caterpillar made entirely of peacock herl on a No. 1 hook.