PICKERKL FISHING. 287 



in the eye of the needle. Enter the point of the needle just above 

 the gills of the fish, near the back, avoiding to pierce the flesh as 

 much as possible, as it is only intended that the gimp should lie just 

 behind the skin. Bring the needle and the loop of the gimp out near 

 the tail, and draw till the hooks lie close to the part your needle 

 entered, and are somewhat hid by the gills. The bait will live a long 

 time after being thus hooked, and may be used in fishing with a float, 

 by putting three swan shots on the gimp to keep it down : — always 

 prefer a Gudgeon for this baiting. I call this a snap, because, when 

 fishing this way for Jack, 1 strike immediately I perceive a run, and 

 have met great success tl^is way of snap-fishing. This snap may be 

 baited with dead fish, and trolled with.' 



" Although I have quoted this mode of keeping a bait 'a long time 

 alive on the hook,' I by no means recommend the practice to my 

 young brothers of the angle, for I have long confined myself to the 

 use of the dead bait ; and with the gorge-hook, and the snap used in 

 the manner I am about to describe, the Pike-fisher will never want 

 sport in a well-stored water. 



" I have before said, that by spinning the Minnow with the same 

 kind of tackle as that used in spinning the Bleak for Thames Trout, 

 I have taken many Jack, Pearch, and Trout ; but I have also fre- 

 quently lost my tackle, by the gut being bitten through by the sharp 

 teeth of the Pike. To remedy this evil, gimp may be employed 

 instead of gut; indeed, the snap-tackle now generally sold at the 

 shops is of this description, but with larger hooks than I use, and 

 coarser gimp. 



" The angler must now make his casts in the manner recommended 

 in trolling with the gorge-hook, letting the bait partly sink, and then 

 drawing it towards him by gentle touches, by which means the bait 

 will spin freely, and look bright and glittering in the water. When 

 you feel or see a bite, let the fish turn, and then strike gently, but 

 still with sufficient quickness and force to make your hooks hold ; and 

 now, with patience and perseverance added to these instructions, a 

 complete disregard of cold and wind, and a determination never to 

 lose his temper at trifling disappointments, the t}T0 may soon become 

 a master." 



The best waters for Pickerel of all kinds are deep, slow, sullen. 



