THE BOOK OF THE PIKE 



the importance of leader or gimp, and emphasized in 

 this, should be held in mind at all times, no matter 

 what the bait or lure under consideration. To lose 

 one record fish by having the line cut by a great pike's 

 teeth is enough to last a fisherman for several seasons. 



Above the hook, I have not much to add to what 

 was said concerning tackle in the foregoing chapter 

 upon artificial lure casting. I would employ prac- 

 tically the same reel, some type of level-winder like the 

 "Shakespeare," "Beetzel," "Supreme," "Heddon's," or 

 ' 'Southbend. ' ' The line would be one I knew to be strong 

 enough for the work, though as light as is consistent 

 with safety. I might use a heavier rod, depending 

 upon the weight of the bait to be handled. I would 

 not jeopardize a light caster by attempting to cast a 

 minnow weighing four or five ounces, as I have seen 

 men do. If I thought it necessary to use a young fish 

 for bait, I would select a somewhat heavy rod to handle 

 it. Personally, I much doubt the advisability of em- 

 ploying an overly large minnow for casting, upon the 

 theory that a large bait insures a large fish. More 

 often I think the practice results in a lost fish. The 

 ordinary casting rod will handle a two- or three-ounce 

 minnow without difficulty. A heavier bait should be 

 thrown from the tip of a rod somewhat thicker in the 

 waist — more stalky and somewhat stiffer, consequently 

 slightly heavier in weight. However, every ounce the 

 caster adds to his rod is subtracting a definite thrill 

 from the battle. The great pike fisherman who will 

 not take a chance, court a thrill, is missing one of the 

 joys of the sport. 



The actual casting of live bait does not differ much 

 from casting artificial lures, save, as a rule, the object 



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