TROLLING RODS. 207 



joint. Some Anglers use a few small brass curtain- 

 rings sewed to loops of leather, and pass the loop over 

 each joint of a stout walking-cane rod, made with long 

 joints, and without rings, the rings hanging outwards, 

 through which rings the trolling line runs ; these 

 leather loops are made in a similar manner to those 

 which you may see in the fishing-tackle shops, passed 

 over, as the means of keeping together, the several 

 joints of hazel and other common fishing rods. 



There are a few Anglers that troll from the shore 

 without a rod, only using a poll or stick, with a forked 

 top ; they carry their line on a bank-runner or a hand- 

 winder : after baiting the hook and letting out a proper 

 length of line, they then pass the fork of the stick or 

 poll under the line, about a yard above the baited hook, 

 and cast out in search, and occasionally use the said 

 fork to hoist the line over, &c. the high sags, sedges, 

 rushes, or whatever else may impede their progress. 

 This mode of Jack or Pike-fishing can be resorted to 

 by an Angler who may beat a water which promises 

 sport, and he, unfortunately, is without a proper rod ; 

 unless this happens, I think few Anglers would so troll 

 or fish for Jack or Pike j but, when trolling from a boat, 

 this method of Jack-fishing is, in some cases, certainly 

 useful, and can be then more conveniently practised. 



Having discoursed, I hope, both plainly and suifici- 



ently on hooks, lines, and rods, I shall now proceed to 



direct the reader how to select the best and most proper 



^ baits for trolling or Jack-fishing, during the different 



seasons of the year. 



