Chap. 4. Of the "P I K E, 171 



Bair, and is ranging out for more. Then 

 with the Trowl, wind up your Line, tiJJ you 

 think you have it aJmoft ftrait -, and then, 

 with a fmall Jerk, hook him, and divert 

 yourfelftoyour Satisfadion. 



Some ufe no Rod at all, but hold the Line 

 in their Hand, with Lead and Float. Others 

 ufe a very great Hook, which they put at the 

 Tail of the Filh, and when the Pike comes 

 they ftrike at his firft Pull. Others put a 

 ftrong Thread in at the Mouth of the Bait, 

 and out at one of the Gills, and fo over the 

 Head, and in at the other Gill, tying tht Bait 

 to the Hook, and leaving a little Length of 

 Thread betwixt the Filli and Hook, that fo 

 the Pike may turn the Head of the Bait, the 

 better to fwallow it ; and then, as before, af- 

 ter fome Paufe, ilrike pretty fmartly. If any 

 Weed hang on your Bait, tht Pike will re- 

 fufe it. 



February, if it be a dry Seafon and open, 

 IS one of the beft Trowling Months. In March 

 they fpawn and are Tick •, therefore bite ill 

 u^Z-W/, and until the Middle o^ May, efpecial^ 

 ly if it be cold and windy, is p'ropitious to 

 the Sport, becaufe the Weeds which have lain 

 all the Winter, begin then to ere^: their 

 Heads. From the Middle of May vnn\ S,^p- 

 temhcr it is bad Trowling, by reafon of the 

 V\ eeds. From the Beginning of Septe?nher till 

 Martinmas, if you are not difturbed with Rain 

 or F'loods, efpecia-lly the Month of O^ober,. is 

 ^ 2 . good j 



