THE BOOK OF THE PIKE 



lightly by by the lover of the red-blooded sport of 

 ice-fishing. 



The tackle required for winter fishing is neither 

 elaborate nor expensive. While I have known men to 

 take rod and reel, with the thought of playing the 

 capture, a little reflection should warn one that the 

 sharp edges of the ice will soon work havoc with the 

 best of lines. I do not imagine that it would be a 

 very pleasant experience to have a six- or eight-pound 

 fish escape, trailing ten or fifteen feet of line. Then, too, 

 the knowledge that the fish was at liberty so handi- 

 capped would not be conducive to happy dreams. 

 Somehow one thinks of the winter life of northern 

 fish more sympathetically than he does of their summer 

 existence, though undoubtedly they are just as "happy" 

 in their ice-locked home as they are when the warm 

 summer winds roughen the surface of the water. Lest 

 we find ourselves discussing that age-old question as 

 to whether or not fish suffer, we will return promptly 

 to the subject at hand — winter great pike fishing. 



The "tip-up" is familiar to every fisherman, and 

 there is no better contrivance for small fish, such as 

 perch, sunfish, and pickerel; but for the larger and 

 more combative great pike, a stronger outfit is re- 

 quired, something that will give them line when 

 needed. As winter fishing is indulged in when the 

 water is freezing and ofttimes the set line is left to 

 care for itself for hours at a stretch, it follows that the 

 spare line must be far enough below the surface of 

 the water to be beyond the influence of the frost. One 

 of the most satisfactory arrangements ever employed 

 by me was a simple loop, made by passing the line 

 around the four fingers of the left hand until sufficient 



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