A Matter of Mascalonge 151 



many prefer a large trolling spoon having a single 

 hook. Triple hooks for 'lunge are a nuisance. All 

 baits for 'lunge should be moved slowly ; a common 

 fault of trollers with the handline is sending the 

 boat along too rapidly. An excellent rule is to 

 make as little noise and fuss as possible. From a 

 boat pulled silently about twenty-five yards outside 

 the weeds the bait can be cast to their very edge 

 and slowly drawn away ; I prefer, however, to troll 

 along the edge, and by this method cover the most 

 water with the least disturbance. Because a fish 

 does not strike is no guarantee that it is not there, 

 and for this reason I return to a good-looking place 

 after a reasonable interval. 



As soon as possible after the 'lunge bites is the 

 time to strike, and the moment the fish is hooked 

 the rower should make for open water. If this be 

 delayed, there may be trouble, for the 'lunge is apt 

 to play the deuce if he can get to cover. A good 

 boatman will watch every move of the game and 

 take full advantage of every chance to assist the 

 angler. Too few men are reliable with the gaff. 

 It should be cautiously passed under the fish this 

 cannot be done too slowly and carefully and then 

 sent home into the throat, with a smoothly swift, 

 upward sweep. So soon as the fish has been boated 

 it should be rapped on the head and a knife blade 

 passed through the spine just back of the head. 

 This most effectually will prevent any unexpected 

 flopping about, for a fish so treated is dead not 

 merely stunned. 



The best fish ever I killed was taken in Rondeau 

 Harbor, on the Canadian side of Lake Erie. While 



