174 THE LARGEST FISH CAUGHT BY SPINNING. 



rubber. So much for this plan : there may be 

 many better ; but all I can say is, that I have not 

 yet seen one fit to be named with it.' By study- 

 ing the preceding cut, and explanations of it, the 

 intelligent learner will be able himself to make 

 such a tackle and use it. 



It is supposed by some, that large pike are 

 caught less seldom by spinning than by trolling 

 with the gorge-bait. If the supposition be true, 

 it is because the latter bait is used more fre- 

 quently than spinning in places where large pike 

 lie, and not because the gorge-bait is the better 

 bait on the whole. I prefer spinning, even for 

 the largest fish, in wide deep waters, clear of 

 obstructions ; for I know that by that method the 

 largest pike are to be caught, besides the excel- 

 lent chance of killing large salmonidae. The 

 gorge-bait answers best in weedy waters, or in 

 those in which there are hindrances to your 

 spinning freely. 



Be cautious how you bait your spinning-tackle. 

 It is not an easy operation; and the difficulty 

 attached to it often deters persons from spinning. 

 Practice will overcome partial difficulties, and 

 even entire ones of far greater intricacy. Com- 

 mence with the simplest sort of tackle, requiring 

 but few hooks. A practical lesson from some old 

 Thames spinner will advance you more in the art 

 of baiting than twenty written pages. You can 



