THE BOOK OF THE PIKE 



the tackle is handled in bass fishing. That he must 

 be more than a novice with the outfit, is accepted with- 

 out argument. The rodster must be able to cast loo 

 feet — 1 50 would be better — with accuracy, for the fish 

 he seeks is exceedingly shy, as well as solitary in 

 habits. 



It is not the part of wisdom to subject a light bass 

 casting rod to the severe work required of muskellunge 

 tackle. A heavy bass split-bamboo is all right in the 

 hands of an understanding angler, while a high-grade 

 Bristol steel is almost ideal. By no means use a cheap, 

 therefore poorly constructed, steel rod for the work. 

 I do not advocate an overly large line, such as is affected 

 by some. One testing twenty-two pounds will play 

 any muskellunge that ever lorded it over the smaller 

 denizens of northern lakes and rivers, provided the 

 angler possesses skill and understanding; if not, let 

 him invest in a heavier line, if necessary up to the 

 **forty-pound-test-muskellunge." Personally, I can 

 see no need for the heavy lines in the hands of the man 

 who is willing and able to play his fish to the point of 

 the gaff. The reel should be one of the level-winding 

 variety, sufficiently large to accommodate 200 feet of 

 size G line. Some fishermen use the self-thumbing 

 reel, claiming that by so doing they are able to give 

 their whole attention to playing the fish. Well, as for 

 me, I prefer to thumb my reel myself, and I believe 

 that I make a better fist of the job than does any 

 mechanism yet produced. However, I am not saying 

 that the self-thumbers are not all their makers claim 

 for them; they are, and perfectly all right for the man 

 who likes them. (See discussion of this whole matter 

 in the author's "Casting Tackle and Methods.") 



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