ALLOW TIME FOR GORGING BAIT. 141 



the least obstruction possible. Lower tbe point 

 or' your rod, and uncoiling with your left hand the 

 line from the winch, give it out freely as the fish 

 moves, so that he may feel no check by a tightened 

 line. Do nothing to disturb him whilst pouching 

 the bait, and after you have struck him, play him 

 according to the rules already given and by those 

 mentioned hereafter. 



The following lines, embodying the opinions of 

 more writers than one, touching the time of 

 striking at pike, are worthy of attention. When 

 you have a run, or, in other words, when a pike or 

 jack has seized your bait, lower the point of the 

 rod towards the water, and at the same time draw 

 the line gradually from the reel with your left 

 hand, so that nothing may impede or check the 

 progress of the fish in carrying the bait to its hole 

 in order to pouch it. Do not strike until the 

 pike has had possession of the bait about seven 

 minutes, or till the line shakes or moves in the 

 water ; then wind up the slack line, and turn the 

 rod, so that the reel may be uppermost instead 

 of underneath, and strike, but not with violence. 

 Mr. Taylor, in his (to a certain extent) useful book, 

 says : ' The pike will, as soon as he has seized a 

 bait, run to his hold to pouch or swallow it : allow 

 him, therefore, five minutes to do so (unless the 

 line slackens before that time, which is a signal 

 that he has already done it), and then strike. 



