TROLLING FOR TIKE. 131 



When you feel a run, which the pike generally takes 

 care shall be no doubtful matter, pay out your line and 

 let him rove where he likes. Do not let him run it off 

 the winch himself, but slack it out for him; for if he feel 

 the slightest resistance, he will suspect all is not right, and 

 perhaps refuse to gorge. If, when he has taken the bait, he 

 merely intends to play with it, he will keep swimming 

 about from place to place, and your chance of getting 

 him is in such a case very small; but if he be in earnest, 

 he will move off to his haunt at once, and when he has 

 remained there perfectly still precisely ten minutes 

 more time is often necessary you may draw in your line 

 with the left hand and begin the contest. Striking him 

 smartly under these circumstances, as some anglers recom- 

 mend, is pure nonsense. During the ten minutes you have 

 allowed him, he has gorged the hook, and all the striking 

 in the world will make it no faster; although, if the fish 

 be very large, the silly performance may snap your rod 

 or line. If the fish move off before ten minutes be ex- 

 pired, let him alone, and he will perhaps soon stop again; 

 if not, then jerk him smartly, and make the best of it: 

 you will most probably get him. 



It is, however, impossible to give directions which can 

 meet every contingency that may arise. Experience 

 alone can enable the angler to deal successfully with every 

 difficulty ; but no art, no combination or power of words, 

 can convey to others the practical skill and ready tactique 

 resulting from that experience. General rules and lead- 

 ing principles may be laid down ; but the art of applying 

 these rules and principles in all their singular variations 

 and diversities, can be obtained, or even comprehended, 

 by experience alone. 



The following song embodies our notions on this 



