62 THE FISHING-HOD; 



cautiously, keeping as much out of sight as 

 possible ; and drop his bait in the opening : 

 and if jack is at home he will most likely seize 

 the bait at once; provided the time of day 

 and season be favorable for the sport. The 

 best baits for taking jack and pike are fresh 

 live gudgeon, roach, minnows, dace, and bleak : 

 and of these the gudgeon is considered best 

 of all : though some anglers give preference 

 to a live roach, rather than any other bait ; 

 particularly during the cold months of January, 

 February, and March. They may also be 

 taken with live frogs. When live fish are used 

 as baits for pike, they should not be more 

 than five and a half inches in length, nor less 

 than four and a half; smaller baits may be 

 used when trying for jack. 



The trolling-rod should be about 14 or 16 

 feet in length, and should be furnished with a 

 short whalebone top-piece ; the whole should be 

 ringed throughout ; though with one ring only 

 to each joint, except the butt, which will not 

 require a ring ; a winch, and about 20 or 30 

 yards of running line, will be required, and a 

 gimp trace with swivels complete. 



There are so many and various kinds of 



