TROLLING FOR MUSKELLUNGE 



tained ; otherwise the capture may shake out the hook. 

 His leaps are not like those of the black bass. Indeed, 

 they are not leaps at all, strictly speaking; simply 

 wallowings on the surface. I have yet to see my first 

 'lunge or pike leap clear of the water. When pulled 

 strongly, the muskellunge comes to the surface, plung- 

 ing about in a tackle-testing way. Obviously the 

 proper thing to do with so heavy a fish is to play him 

 on a taut line. Over-eagerness is suicidal. Ofttimes 

 an angler says his fish escapes because insecurely 

 hooked, when the truth of the matter is the rodster 

 tore the hook out by main strength. The angler need 

 not expect a brilliant battle from the muskellunge, 

 but he should look for a well-sustained and stead- 

 fastly conducted struggle. Never underrate the ability 

 of a hooked fish — any fish — much less the 'lunge. Always 

 play a fish until he shows the white fiag in surrender, 

 then gaff quickly, lest he "come back" before you are 

 ready. Quite often the 'lunge surrenders all at once 

 at the end of a sustained rush or after wallowing for 

 some seconds upon the surface. But do not be deceived. 

 There may remain in that long body rushings and 

 wallowings galore. I have known fish to surrender 

 incontinently after the first rush and come to gaff 

 meekly. Again, I have known fish to come to life at 

 the first prick of the gaff, smash tackle, break loose, 

 and escape. 



One tactic of the 'lunge, which the fisherman must 

 guard against, is to dash under the boat. The rod 

 must be lifted out and away from the side of the craft, 

 or a broken joint will result. The angler always has 

 a safety-valve in his reel. Give line easily and with 

 tension. In playing so heavy a fish as the muskel- 



167 



