52 



THE PIKE. 



Style. Instead of swinging the rod to the right hand or to 

 the left, and propelling the bait forward by a gentle side 

 cast, two or three of them handled the rod a good deal like 

 a country labourer using a frail. They grasped the rod with 

 one hand above the reel, and the other below it, and swung 

 the point and bait over their heads straight behind them, so 

 that the rod was in a direct line with the middle of their 

 backs, and both hands at the back of the head. In making 

 the cast the rod was brought smartly forward with the point 

 high in the air ; in fact, the rod described a semi-circle, or 

 very nearly so ; and such was the force of this terrific cast 

 that the bait travelled to a great height before dropping on 

 the ground. This cast, if applied to actual pike fishing vath 

 a tender natural bait, would result in dire disaster tu the 

 bait, at any rate; it would be thrown all to atoms in two 

 casts. The gentle side swing with the finger on the edge 

 of the reel is the correct and proper style, that is if your 

 baits are scarce and you want them to keep attractive as 

 long as possible. Of course it does not matter so much with 

 a strong metal artificial bait how it is thrown, so long as it 

 goes out to the best advantage. Sometimes you may stand 

 in a very awkward position among trees or bushes, where it 

 is impossible to swing the rod point to either side, or even 

 upwards ; there is perhaps no more than two or three yards 

 of clear space immediately fronting the spot on which you 

 stand. Under these circumstances a very creditable cast 

 can be made by drawing down a length of line from between 

 the rings of the rod as high up as you can reach, and letting 

 the bait swing backwards and forwards by moving the rod 

 point as far upwards and downwards as the circumstances 

 of the place will allow. When the bait has acquired suffi- 

 cient momentum and swings sharply forward, release the 

 loop of line that you hold in the left hand, which has been 

 drawn down from between the rings on the rod, and at the 

 same time ease the pressure of the little finger of the right 

 hand on the edge of the reel, and away goes the bait, the 

 weight of which will cause the reel to revolve sufficiently to 

 get out 20 yards, at the very least, if it is wanted. In this 

 cast the rod must be held in the right hand above the reel, 

 with the edge or side of the little finger resting lightly on the 



