WINTER. 75 



and there remaining. It will be found convenient to have 

 a small triangle attached to an inch and a quarter of gimp, 

 slipping over, and flying loose above the shoulders of the 

 bait. Sometimes a difficulty is found when the bait is 

 other than dace or gudgeon, in getting the proper spinning 

 motion ; but you soon learn how to act. 



It is always best in pike-fishing to use a trace of twisted 

 gut. Our forefathers considered that anything would do 

 for pike, but this is an exploded idea. The use of coarse 

 gimp is now generally acknowledged to be a mistake, and 

 the deterioration of the quality of gimp some little time 

 ago led to a more general adoption of the twisted or 

 double gut trace. Gimp, however, for the hooks, is essential 

 in angling for a fish with such a formidable furnishing of 

 teeth as the pike. 



On a day like the one in which we are supposed to be 

 fishing the Squire's lake, fine tackle is more than ever a 

 necessity, for not only is there an absence of wind, but 

 the water is unfortunately abnormally clear. The direful 

 anacharis has, as usual, installed itself in the lake, and, 

 but for the free use of an ingenious steam ploughing 

 machine, would render pike fishing an impossibility, so 

 densely has it taken possession. The first few casts 

 produce nothing. In fact, to be truthful, I must confess 

 that two hours pass before any sign of sport is forth- 

 coming. This in a choice preserve known to be, as the 

 saying goes, full of pike, is ominous, for the voracious 

 nature of the fish is such that if he means taking he 

 does not waste time in pondering over the how and 

 wherefore. But fate relents towards the afternoon, and 

 a pretty ripple dances over the more exposed portions of 

 the lake. A long cast into one of the open spaces brings 

 me the first fish. It moves, nevertheless, in a most 



