TROLLING FOR GREAT PIKE 



do. The reel is important, for it will be used con- 

 tinuously in such trolling as I have in mind. 



While the angler may have a boatman, perhaps he is 

 of the go-alone variety, in which case he will need a 

 rod holder. The instant a fish strikes — and there will 

 be no need of a bell to warn of the moment — the angler 

 will want the rod in his hands. To have a rod clamped 

 in by a set-screw, as I once saw an arrangement, must 

 be peculiarly vexatious. The wise rodster will not 

 attempt to troll without a boatman or some variety 

 of rod holder. The practice of laying a rod on the 

 bottom of a boat, tip protruding over the stern, is 

 hazardous in the extreme. A large fish, or even a snag, 

 may jerk the whole outfit from the boat before the 

 lone fisherman can drop his oars, much less grasp the 

 rod. Even though a reel have just sufficient pressure 

 of drag to keep the line from paying out, the unexpected 

 may happen at any moment, the line slightly snarl, 

 and the fisherman lose his outfit. 



It will not be necessary here to repeat what has 

 been said upon landing tools — gaff, club, revolver, etc. ; 

 only, the angler who neglects to plan for the gaffing 

 of the record fish is getting ready to lose it. Always 

 the wise fisherman conducts himself as though he 

 were going to catch the prize-winner every time he 

 shoves his boat out from the landing. To do otherwise 

 is to court disaster. More than once I have lost a good 

 fish because I happened to be without a net or gaff, 

 and thought it would not matter anyway. 



Quite recently I left my cottage one morning for a 

 day's trout fishing on a little stream much fished by 

 me. A few rods from the door I bethought me of the 

 net, thea went on, remarking to myself: "Shucks! 



105 



