CAST TIIK BAIT. 2!2j> 



first, always standing as far back from the water as you 

 can, being able at the same time to see your float j if, 

 after a few minutes, you have no success, advance a 

 little nearer, and make another cast further in the 

 water, or to the right or left. If the bait be lively, it 

 will swim strong about, and make for the weeds, and 

 there entangle itself, which you must prevent by draw- 

 ing it gently away, but not out of the water. When 

 the bait-fish becomes weak, which you will discover 

 by the float not bobbing about much, you should draw 

 him gently to and fro, at the same time shaking your 

 rod a little, which will sometimes stimulate a Jack to 

 seize it, fearing it is making its escape 3 though, w hile 

 it is stationary, the Jack is seldom in a hurry about it, 

 which proves the advantage of strong lively baits over 

 the weak and languid : cast in search in all the bends, 

 bays, and still parts of rivers, and in ponds, pools, 

 &c., and also near and among beds of candock weeds, 

 rushes, sedges, and retired places, in preference to ra- 

 pid currents or whirling eddies, for such unsettled 

 places Jack and Pike like not. 



Observe, when you take your bait out of the water 

 to cast it into another place, that you draw it slowly 

 and gradually to the surface for that purpose, and not 

 snatch it out ; because Jack and Pike, when not very 

 much on the feed, will only strike at the bait when it 

 seems to be escaping from them : those who take their 

 line out without the above caution, Avill often find a 

 Jack strike at their bait, and, in their eagerness, some- 

 times throw themselves out of the water after it 3 but, 



X 



