PIKE-FISHING. 37 



use of three hooks lashed hack to back for this fishing, 

 and to bait them, you put one of the hooks through 

 the skin of the gudgeon, close to his back-fin. Al- 

 though I think a gudgeon the best bait for pike, yet 

 roach, dace, or any other fresh-water fish are good. 



These three hooks, lashed back to back as just 

 mentioned, make very good tackle for dead bait. You 

 loop your baiting-needle on to the loop at the end of 

 the wire to which the hooks are attached, and then in- 

 sert the point of the baiting-needle at the back, just 

 below the back-fin, and out of the mouth, drawing the 

 wire with it, until the bend of the hooks is brought up 

 close to the fin. 



If you troll for pike with the common gorge-hook, 

 with a, dead bait, and have a difficulty in getting fresh- 

 water fish for bait, a herring (not too large), gray 

 mullet, smelts, or small bass (with the back-fin cut 

 off), will do quite as well. I have continually taken 

 pike with the gorge with these fish, and think them 

 quite as good bait for gorge-fishing as any fresh-water 

 fish. I have never tried any other sea-fish for the 

 gorge, but probably some others might do as well. 

 You must, however, bear in mind, that all these fish 

 must be perfectly fresh for this fishing ; for a pike 



