THE BOOK OF THE PIKE 



The very best trolling ground is in the deep water 

 along the edges of weed-beds, though of course the 

 fisherman must have a care lest he hook a weed. 

 Hooking weeds is not disastrous, though mighty un- 

 pleasant when upward of loo feet of line is dragging 

 behind the boat. The next best place is over sub- 

 merged weeds, though that variety of trolling is to be 

 attempted only with much prayer and patience. 

 Always the hooks will become entangled with the up- 

 rearing weeds, for not always are the tops of submerged 

 weeds of an even height. Usually the weed will break 

 and so the hook be freed, though cumbered with a 

 tangle of cerements that must be removed. But if the 

 weed does not break, there should be sufficient line 

 upon the reel spool to obviate disaster. It is never 

 the part of wisdom to use up the last ten yards of line, 

 no matter what the temptation to let out more. One 

 never knows what may happen and when. Usually 

 accidents happen when the fisherman is unprepared 

 or, rather, when he has prepared for them. Next to 

 the weedy places I think I would seek out the inlet 

 or outlet, or deep water just off bars, where minnows 

 are found. There is little use in trolling in deep water, 

 unless there is especial attraction for great pike — 

 weeds, food, etc. The wise angler attempts at least 

 to reason out the whys and wherefores. The longer I 

 angle, the more thought I give to the subject, the more 

 thoroughly convinced I am that fish use more "reason" 

 than most of us give them credit for. I am certain 

 that there is some good "fish-reason" why a red-and- 

 white rag is more attractive to great pike than an all 

 red or all white rag. He who knows the most answers 

 to the whys of angling catches the most fish. 



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