I 



190 modern practical angler. 



Playing. 



The golden rule in playing all fish is to keep a strong 

 and even strain upon them from the first to last, and get ' 

 them into basket with as little delay as possible. The 

 maintaining of a sufficiently heavy strain is particularly 

 necessary in Pike-fishing where stiff rods are used, and 

 flights containing several hooks, as the sudden slacken- 

 ing of a foot or two of line is sufficient to restore such a 

 rod to the straight position from which it has been 

 comparatively little bent, thus removing the strain 1 

 altogether. 



Should a fish run under or into weeds, there is but one 

 plan to be pursued ; — instantly tighten the strain upon 

 him to the very utmost that rod and line will bear : by this 

 means the line will frequently act as a knife and cut its 

 way with the fish, through all obstacles. But whether the 

 expedient fails or succeeds it is the only one that can 

 be adopted : if once the fish passes under the weeds 

 without carrying the line straight over him, the latter ' 

 forms an angle at the point where it strikes the obstacle, 

 and all power over the fish is instantly lost. 



Landing. 



There are many conflicting opinions in regard to the 

 landing of the Pike, as on all other angling matters. 



Nobbes suggests that you " put your fingers in his eyes." 

 — adding " some will adventure to take him by the gills, 



