Chapter VI 



Great Pike and Live Bait 



"The mediocrity of pike as a game fish is doubtless a just 

 estimation in a majority of cases, but once in a while one will 

 exhibit game qualities that will surprise the most doubting and 

 contemptuous angler, compelling his admiration and forcing him 

 to admit that there are exceptions to all rules, more especially 

 in fishing." — Dr. James A. Henshall. 



THE great pike is a lover of live bait, I sometimes 

 imagine, putting up a better fight when caught 

 on a minnow or frog than when taken with arti- 

 ficial lures, though perhaps the belief is another of my 

 angling whims. This fact enters in, however, that on 

 live bait there is ordinarily but a single hook, while the 

 usual artificial lure is possessed of several trebles. 

 Three sets of trebles fast in a great pike's jaw are quite 

 apt to take the fight out of an otherwise combative 

 individual. A word to the wise is sufficient. 



There is no question but that the use of artificial 

 lure is the cleaner and — shall I say it? — more sports- 

 manlike method. There are days and waters, however, 

 when and where live bait will prove more availing. 

 He who refuses to use live bait at all shall be, to mis- 

 quote Father Izaak, "a bit superstitious." By the 

 way, I am always suspicious of the angler who * 'never" 

 uses anything but artificial flies or casting lures of 

 some sort, feeling that perhaps it would be a good 

 idea to go through the pockets of his fishing-coat care- 

 fully. Be that as it may, the man who employs live 



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