THE BOOK OF THE PIKE 



February. The winter had been an exceptionally cold 

 one, with little snow, and ice formed to the depth of 

 two feet or so. Perhaps the fish were "smothering." 

 I know that minnows were very numerous in the 

 water. At any rate, the pickerel and great pike, 

 small and large, moved out in a body. I stood on the 

 banks of the outlet, a small creek, and watched the 

 great fish slip by, fish such as one dreams of by the 

 campfire or hears splash along about eleven o'clock of 

 a hot July night. Needless to add, the pike fishing in 

 that lake was but indifferent for several seasons after 

 the great exodus. But, as was said a moment ago, 

 aside from the procreative urge, lack of food is ordi- 

 narily the only reason why pike ever move, bag and 

 baggage. 



Out in the center of the lake is not apt to prove a 

 good place for cutting holes. Better far begin opera- 

 tions along the shore just where the water deepens or 

 along the edges of weed-beds, both good locations in 

 summertime. Sometimes near the outlet or inlet 

 there will be a deep channel. Both are good places, 

 for minnows congregate there, and where minnows 

 foregather there look for their arch enemies, the great 

 pike. One must, should, be acquainted with the lake 

 or river and the lurking places of great pike, an ac- 

 quaintanceship which can be consummated only in 

 summertime, for then and then only can depth and 

 conformation be studied. Sometimes a reef out in the 

 center of the water will supply a good fishing place, 

 though at the edge where the water sharply deepens 

 will be more apt to give the fisherman a record-breaking 

 fish. Which leads me to say that now and then the 

 set-line fisher who braves the winter cold is presented 



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