AND HOW TO USE IT. 69 



When using a float and live bait, it is 

 best to keep away from beds of weeds, or the 

 bait-fish will probably hide or entangle itself 

 among them. 



On lifting the bait out of the water when 

 trolling, always do so slowly, because it very 

 often happens that jack attempts to seize it at 

 the last moment, just when the bait appears 

 to be escaping from it. I have frequently 

 had my bait snatched at in this way by jack 

 and pike; which, in their efforts to seize 

 it, have leaped out of the water after it ; 

 but in these cases I have generally found 

 they would take the bait when next offered 

 them. 



The best time of year for trolling for 

 jack and pike is September and October, at 

 which time they bite freely and are in good 

 condition. They will sometimes bite at any 

 time during summer, but the large fish are 

 then lean and ill favored; for though they 

 spawn in March, they do not recover their 

 full condition until the cool autumnal weather, 

 from which time they continue in season 

 till the following March. Therefore in winter, 

 whenever there is no ice to impede the 



