LANDING A PIKE. 51 



may conclude the fish has pouched the bait and feels the 

 hooks, then wind up your slack line and strike, but not 

 violently, and always mind to keep the point. of your 

 rod a 'little raised while you are playing and killing your 

 fish; on the other hand, if you have a run, and the fish 

 lays still for a minute or so, and moves a little way and 

 stops, and perhaps moves a third time, dont strike, for 

 he has not yet pouched, but let him remain ten minutes, 

 for perhaps he may be disturbed by a larger fish making his 

 appearance, and in consequence he first endeavours to 

 get away, fearing the larger will dispossess him of his prey : 

 therefore in such cases it is the safest way to give time or 

 put on a snap hook. 



When you have a run, and the fish lays still, and you 

 are disposed to lay your rod down, be careful so to place 

 it that nothing can impede the winch and line acting 

 freely, and stand handy to act as circumstances may re- 

 quire, for sometimes a heavy fish when he feels the hook, 

 will make a sudden and most violent rush towards the 

 middle or up the river, and in an instant, rod, winch, and 

 all are drawn into the water, or the line broke. 



When you have hooked or played a fish until he is 



quite weakened, and there is high sags or rushes before 



you, or you are on a high bank, the safest way to land 



your prize, then is, by fixing a landing hook in him, either 



through his lips, or under his lower jaw; because while 



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