SPINNING. 183 



} have little doubt that in open water that weight might 

 I be doubled, or even trebled with safety. But properly- 

 \ tied and handled, mark : for it is * a great mistake to 

 I assume, as I have often heard fishermen do, that because 

 I a single-gut casting line will kill a Salmon — the gamer 

 fish of the two — a fortiori, it will kill a Pike of equal 

 size. With the same rod, and in the same water, it will 

 do so no doubt. There is, however, a wide distinction to 

 be drawn between a stiff three-joint trolling rod, and a 

 twenty foot " Castle Connell," and a vast difference be- 

 tween a clear Highland Salmon river, and the weedy, 

 often foul waters, usually tenanted by overgrown Pike. 

 The stiffness of the rod renders the line liable to sudden 

 jerks and strains, whilst the sharp blow which is abso- 

 lutely necessary for properly striking a fish, is the 

 most trying ordeal to which any knotted tackle can be 

 subjected. But the thing is to be done, notwith- 

 standing. Two essentials only besides good manage- 

 ment are required — a rod-top of the proper stiffness, 

 and the peculiar description of gut knotting described 

 at page 55. 



Leads. 



For observations on the subject of leads generally, 

 and for a description and diagram of the pattern which 

 is recommended to be used for all kinds of spinning 

 traces, the reader is referred to the preliminary chapter, 

 pp. 18-20. 



