SPINNING. 189 



and drew it across a Pike-pond, giving it at the same 

 time an irregular, life-like motion. It was quickly 

 seized by a fish of about 2 lbs., which made a most 

 determined resistance, running out the twine as if 

 really hooked, and only relinquishing its grasp of the 

 cork when within arm's length. The experiment was 

 repeated several times with a similar result. 



This illustrates a fact of great importance to Pike- 

 fishers, and one which is of especial significance in the 

 case of spinners : namely, that Pike will constantly show 

 considerable fight, and even allow themselves to be 

 dragged many yards, by the obstinacy of their hold, 

 without ever having been pricked by a hook — shaking 

 the bait out of their mouths when almost in the net. 



I say once more therefore — Strike, — and strike hard ; 

 and repeat the stroke iintil a violent tearing struggle is 

 \felt; such a struggle almost invariably beginning the 

 moment a fish really feels the hook, and being easily 

 distinguished from that sluggish resistance, sometimes 

 absolute inaction, experienced when he is only " holding 

 on." It is generally large unwieldy Pike which act in 

 this fashion, and an attention to the above suggestion 

 will not unfrequently save the loss of the best fish of the 

 day. 



In the majority of instances, neither time nor circum- 

 stance admits of any rules as to the direction of the 

 stroke being adopted, and in such cases the simplest and 

 safest plan is to strike straight upwards. 



