ARTIFICIAL FLIES FOR PIKE. 159 



these fish take a bait eagerly. March too is 

 very seasonable to the troller, except the time of 

 spawning, which usually begins about the middle 

 of it, except the spring is very forward, and then 

 they will be disinclined towards preying. The 

 snap is now the most taking way ; for if you fish 

 at pouch you may have many runs, but scarcely 

 take one, except it be a small fish. These two 

 months, therefore, will try the pike-fisher's pa- 

 tience, even though he be wind and weather 

 proof. April will, however, in all probability 

 make him amends for his former sufferings.' 



In the latter summer months, and on the fine days 

 in autumn, when the deeps are curled by a fine 

 breeze, pike are to be taken very pleasantly by 

 means of the artificial fly. The best imitation is 

 a very large one of the dragon-fly. Of the season 

 of autumn, Mr. Nobbs says : 6 The weather being 

 then temperate, and the weeds, which were strong 

 and high before, are now dying and falling to the 

 bottom. The rivers are then generally low, which 

 is a great advantage, because the fish are more 

 easily found in their harbours. They leave the 

 shallows and scowers, and lodge themselves in pits 

 and the deepest places. A pike is now very firm 

 and fat, having had the benefit of the summer's 

 food ; and if the weather continues open, and not 

 extraordinarily cold, you may take in part of No- 

 vember, which will add much to your sport, 



