GENERAL SWEET-WATER TACKLE 141 



80- or loo-yard casting reel, E or F line, braided silk, 

 the latter size preferably because it will work better 

 in casting, and No. 4 and 6 trolling spoons, are suita- 

 ble. All of the bass casting baits mentioned in Chap- 

 ter 9, some of them made slightly larger and stronger, 

 are used in casting and trolling for mascalonge. The 

 mascalonge, in common with the pike and pickerel, 

 has an innate fondness for green and white, and the 

 fancy-back minnow, above described, is a very success- 

 ful one. A light steel-wire leader should always be 

 used. In this connection it should be said that gimp 

 leaders, for any sort of fishing, are not to be trusted. 

 They will smash without any previous warning at all 

 visible to the angler. A strong gaff must also form a 

 part of the outfit. A plan sometimes followed is to 

 shoot the fish through the head with a .22 pistol or 

 rifle. The advantage of this is that the fish is dead 

 when he comes into the boat sometimes a very great 

 advantage. 



For either pike or pickerel ordinary bass tackle may 

 properly be used, with the addition, as in the case of 

 the mascalonge, of a metal leader. For pike larger 

 spoons should be used than for pickerel, about the 

 same as for mascalonge. 



Early in the spring lake trout may be taken on 

 ordinary fairly light trolling tackle, 



Lake Trout tro ni n g on the surface. With the ar- 

 Tackle. , , , , 



rival of warm weather, however, these 



fish seek the very deepest portions of the lake, and 



