64 THF FISHING-ROD ; 



mode of fishing for jack and pike, when a 

 small roach or gudgeon is used as a bait. To 

 bait the gorge-hook, use a baiting-needle, by 

 hooking it on to the looped gimp ; put the 

 point of the needle into the fish's mouth, and 

 bring it out at the middle of the forked tail ; 

 draw the gimp after it, and the lead will then 

 be in the fish's belly, and the barbs and points 

 of the hooks outside the mouth, pointing 

 upwards. Then pass a piece of white thread 

 round the tail, so as to tie it to the gimp, 

 and the bait is ready. With a gorge-hook 

 so baited, and hooked on to the trace at the 

 end of the trolling-line, drop the bait into 

 the water near sedges and rushes, or other fa- 

 vorite resorts of pike ; move it about constantly 

 in different parts of the water, and if there 

 is a pike near, it will most likely seize 

 it, and immediately make off to its gorging 

 haunt ; this is termed " a run." The troller 

 on first feeling his bait taken, must be par- 

 ticular not to offer the slightest check to 

 the line, but put the point of his rod down, 

 and allow the fish to run off with the bait; 

 which it sometimes does to the extent of 30 

 or 40 yards. From five to ten minutes must 



