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mouth. When a pike is hooked, he should be 

 kept as much as possible near the surface of the 

 water to prevent his getting into the weeds, 

 which add so much to the stress on the line. 

 If he is a weighty fish, it will be necessary to 

 allow time for three or four violent struggles 

 which he will make, but in general it is as well 

 to land him as soon as possible. What is said 

 about playing him till he is tired is a waste of 

 time. I am always for securing a fish as quick- 

 ly as may be. The best trolling I have had, 

 has generally been from the 1st of November, 

 to the 1st of March. The weeds are then 

 down and rotten, and pike see the bait readily. 

 The weather, however, for fishing at this sea- 

 son of the year, should be moderately fine, with 

 a mild wind, and the water * in tune/ as an old 

 angler calls it. I have never had a good day's 

 trolling when the water has been discoloured. 

 The best time of the day for trolling for pike 

 is, from four to six o'clock in the evening, in 

 summer, and from two to three o'clock, in 

 winter. They may, however, be readily taken 

 at all times of the day when the weather is pro- 

 pitious. I prefer gudgeons to all other baits, as 

 they are tougher, and, therefore, are not readily 

 jerked off the hooks. If properly put on, they 

 spin admirably, and are then very attractive. 

 A bleak is the next good bait, but I generally 



