PIKE-FISHING. 181 



Spinning demands, last, but as I have already suggested, 

 not least, some notice. Many high-class anglers disdain to 

 fish for pike in any other way. There are several kinds of 

 flights recommended as superior to all others, but so long as 

 the bait spins and there is something dangerous at its vent 

 there or thereabouts it does not signify much. A large 

 strong triangle at the end of a short length of gimp, passed 

 into the vent and out of the mouth of the bait, is used at 

 all times by various friends of my own, who declare it sur- 

 passes every invention that has been devised. Others give 

 the palm to a succession of the most terrible triangles ; 

 others use nothing but artificial baits. There are inventions 

 by Francis, Pennell, Otter, and I know not how many others, 

 and they are all good, and all worth a trial. 



The pike-fisher's box should contain two or three flights 

 for natural bait, a spoon, a large phantom minnow, and a 

 medium sized artificial dace ; having these he need not re- 

 main at home because the live-bait can has returned empty 

 from the tackle-shop. Spinning from boat or bank does not 

 require the extreme length of line supposed by some to be 

 necessary, and young beginners may to an erroneous con- 

 ception of what is here essential trace the inextricable tangles 

 which acf so prejudicially against the temper and which send 

 their bait round about their ears instead of twenty yards oft" 

 as they had fondly hoped. 



Let it never be forgotten that a short line cleanly cast, 

 and a bait splashing little, and spun back well under hand, 

 are more effective a hundred times than a sensational hurl 

 into space ; also that to clear your way as you go and render 

 yourself able to stand close to the edge of the water, a 

 preliminary cast right and left about a yard from and parallel 



