THE LITTLE PICKERELS 



I would not do if angling for great pike, for reasons 

 which will appear later. The lightest reel will prove 

 none too light if it balance the rod. For ease in cast- 

 ing, the medium-sized regular enameled silk line is 

 recommended. I would have the line of a shade to 

 harmonize with the color of the water to be cast over. 

 As to flies, select flamboyant patterns like "Silver 

 Doctor," "Scarlet Ibis," "Jungle Cock," "Royal 

 Coachman," etc., tied to regular bass hooks. The 

 flies cannot well be too large. If you have any skill 

 in fly-tying, fashion something for yourself of brilliant 

 colors with streaming tail. I once made some mistake 

 in feather dyeing, and instead of securing the desired 

 color, produced a shade of purple of unimaginable 

 brilliance, unlike any color ever seen tinting wing of 

 gauzy ephemera of lake or stream. Yet those feathers 

 made wonderfully alluring flies. A peacock-herl body, 

 purple hackle, streaming purple and crimson tail 

 feathers formed a fly pickerel and great pike seemed 

 unable to resist. The point to remember in fly-fishing 

 for members of the pike family is that the unusual is 

 apt to prove successful. I doubt very much if these 

 fish strike at the moving object because it looks like 

 some accustomed food, but because it moves, and is 

 therefore something that will satisfy an insatiable 

 appetite. The pickerel is not a particular feeder. 



As to the method of handling flies, little need be 

 said. I take it for granted that the reader knows some- 

 thing of the methods of casting flies and lures. If you 

 have ever taken black bass on artificial flies, you will 

 experience no difficulty in hooking pickerel. He takes 

 the fly with a rush usually, and, like the man who 

 marries in haste, repents when he has ample time for 



53 



