32 THE TROLTVER'S 



such as a small hole, division, or clear place, among a 

 bed of weeds, in a river, or any other water, where there 

 are many weeds : but if your rod is too short for that 

 purpose, your baited hook frequently falls short when 

 cast, or among the weeds instead of the open place, which 

 you desire or wish it to fall into, in such case, Jack or Pike 

 are alarmed, and your chance of getting a run (a run 

 in Jack and Pike fishing is a bite) is lost, and frequently 

 the bait is spoiled or much injured by catching or hanging 

 to the weeds, you then have to bait your hook afresh, 

 losing time, &c. from such mishaps, you are, perchance, 

 sometimes near loosing your temper, forgeting that hope 

 and patience support the fisherman. 



There is some difference of opinion among anglers about 

 the number of rings necessary for trolling rods ; those 

 who have their line on a thumb winder, or on a bank run- 

 ner, seldom place more than two or three rings on their 

 rod, and others have only one large ring at the top ; but if 

 a winch is used, there should be a ring to every joint, ex- 

 cept the butt, that is, fasten the winch to the butt, and let 

 that joint be without a ring, and all the other joints, except 

 the top to have a ring, each made of double brass wire, fixed 

 so as always to stand out, and nearly large enough to admit 

 the top of your little finger ; the top joint should have two 

 rings, the top one nearly three times the size of the others, 

 (see the cut) this prevents any obstruction to the line 

 running, which is of material consequence. I have two 



