A SUMMER day's PIKE-FISHING. 11 



more at a time, evidently in the endeavour to get away from 

 some feeding pike or perch. Why do bleak always jump in 

 pairs, I wonder .P In the water they all appear to mix 

 indiscriminately ; but when pursued, they leap side by side, like 

 well-matched steeplechasers taking their hurdles together. 

 Immediately opposite the boathouse a narrow backwater leaves 

 the main stream ; but this we do not propose to fish now, for it 

 is choked with weeds, the water hardly moves through it, and 

 it contains at this season very few pike. At the mouth of the 

 backwater, however, is a small clump of reeds (A), one side of 

 which is washed by the main stream. Here is a likely spot, and 

 we therefore fish close round the reeds, and soon lure out a jack 

 of about 51b. We now pass down the river for some little dis- 

 tance without fishing, for the stream here is swift, and the bottom 

 clear of weeds; but on reaching the tail of the large island 

 another little clump of rushes (B) is noticed, round which we 

 fish most carefully, and hook a small jack on the side next the 

 main stream. A little below us is another island, above which, 

 for about 20yds., is a fine bed of weeds (0). These do not reach 

 to the surface of the water, and, mooring our punt at the head 

 of them, we send a live bait on float-tackle roaming over them. 

 We have two runs, and bring another fish to basket. To the 

 left of us the bank is lined with reeds, and outside the reeds is a 

 bed of weeds (D) very similar to those we have just been fishing. 

 This is a very stronghold of pike in summer, and we determine to 

 put a spinning bait over it, for the weeds do not reach the surface. 

 Quietly the punt is let down the stream, and we fish every 

 inch of water by the side of the reeds, and over the weeds. 

 Nor are we disappointed, two more nice-sized jack joining their 

 companions in the well. We next retrace our steps a little — go 

 round the head of the island, and let our float-tackle drift down 

 the right-hand channel, taking care that our floats pass as close 

 as possible to the weeds (E) which fringe the bank on the right. 

 Here we get no fish ; but the spot was worth trying. We then 

 cross the river, and continue float-fishing along the weeds 

 (F, F, F) which fringe the opposite bank ; or, I should say, that 

 one of us live-baits, while another takes casts with his spinning 

 bait half across the river. The live-baiter catches one jack 



