DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT Sy 



I helped to start my friend, as he was unfamihar with 

 my wire arrangement that I think deceives the pike as 

 readily as fine blue gut, and, at the same time, frees 

 the user from all fear of its being affected by the 

 sharpest teeth. 



The materials and method of putting together for 

 the snap I use are so simple and the carrying space 

 needed so small that I think you may like to try it; 

 so I will tell 3^ou of it here. 



I take with me a dozen double hooks and a dozen 

 treble, all with eyes. The double hooks have a piece 

 of wire attached, one and a quarter inches long, includ- 

 ing the loop that ends it, which should be just of suffi- 

 cient size to slip over the eye of the treble hook, from 

 the eye of which a piece of wire comes to the sinker, 

 eighteen inches, and then a four-feet length from the 

 sinker to the swivel to which the line is to be attached. 

 Do not be afraid for the strength of this arrangement, 

 as the wire has proved strong enough for me to hold 

 and kill hundreds of large spring salmon without ever 

 breaking. I have broken rods and broken lines but 

 never once my wire. 



There are some who have a strong preference for 

 a huge, fat, and gaudily painted float, and who dehght 

 in watching the bobs and little waves it makes as the 

 bait tugs at it for freedom, but only a moment's 

 thought is needed to lead one to prefer the longer and 

 more slender shapes that answer readily to the move- 

 ments of the lure. It is to the bait, by its movements 

 here and there, that you must look to find the pike, 

 therefore its load should clog it as little as may be 

 possible. 



The line is a matter of even greater consequence 

 than the float, as one that sinks readily and fouls 

 itself in weeds must stay the progress of the bait 

 altogether. Have a silk line, dyed dark blue, and 

 filled with liquid mutton fat, and it will glide along 

 the surface until tlie moment comes to strike, and 



