176 WA TERSIDE SKETCHES. 



noiselessly drop not throw the bait as near the bank as 

 you can, then begin to cast in successive lengths at wilL 

 The man who thus approaches water which has been 

 unapproached on the same day stands an excellent chance 

 of making acquaintance with the prowlers who lie under 

 the overhanging banks, or who have come to the shallows 

 for small fry. More pike in an ordinarily deep river are 

 taken in this way within six feet of the shore than further 

 afield. 



Then as to gorging. Very whimsical are the notions 

 prevailing on this head. I know of many persons wha 

 literally take out their watches at the first signal of a run, 

 and be the movement of a fish what it may, strike home as 

 soon as ten minutes have elapsed. A very old young gentle- 

 man I could name gives precisely fifteen minutes' grace. 

 Now, it is indisputable that if the fish has gorged there is no 

 danger of losing him, but at the same time I would submit 

 that this waste of time in a short winter's day is quite un- 

 necessary if the habits of the creature be sufficiently studied. 

 It is every pike-fisher's experience that quantities of fish are 

 lost by striking too soon. Most experienced trollers I think 

 will agree with me that if the gorging process be not com- 

 plete in a quarter of an hour it will never be effected, since 

 Esox Lucius is only making sport of you, instead of you of 

 him ; also that at times the fish are in no haste to close the 

 transaction. 



Hit or miss I always proceed thus: Tug, tug, and a 

 rush. That is a run. The fish may stop soon, or he may 

 run fifty or a hundred yards. The assumption may usually 

 be taken, however, that a pike is not far from his temporary 

 lair, and I very much question whether, when the line 



