FROM STRIKE TO GAFF 193 



right up in the game class. Theodore Nordholm of 

 Chicago landed a 23-pound pike early in October on 

 a line that tested out at eight and a half pounds at 

 the break, which is sure some fishing and stacks up 

 well with the clever work of the cotton thread 

 anglers of Long Island. The " how " of landing 

 this large pike is modestly told by Theodore : 



" We sure struck it cold for our fishing trip to 

 Gillette Lake, at Mountain, Wisconsin. It was a 

 blustery and rainy day with snow flurries and my pal 

 and I were loafing around the cabin trying to keep 

 warm. But the fishing fever had us and we decided 

 to take a flyer around the lake. 



" Striking a nice bunch of lily pads, I warmed up 

 with a few casts in among 'em. The fourth throw 

 of my Jamison Mascot brought a strike that sure 

 had weight behind it, but I only held him a few sec- 

 onds before he broke away. I must have scared him 

 a bit, because repeated casts failed to interest him, 

 so we went around the lake. 



" I could not get that old man out of my mind, 

 however, and I knew he was a big one from the pull 

 he handed me the few moments I had him hooked. 

 I insisted on giving him another chance, so we let 

 the boat drift in to the spot where I had lost him. 



STRIKES \VITH A PUNCH 



" I made a cast in where I thought he ought 

 to be and sure enough he landed with both feet. 



