12 ANGLING FOR PIKE. 



in the bend, and a fisli seizes tlie spinner's bait just as it is 

 passing over some sunken weeds (G) which lie out in the centre 

 of the stream. 



We have now reached a very sharp bend in the river, and on 

 and skirting the point of land opposite to us is a large bed of 

 reeds (H). Through the outskirts of these a gentle stream flows, 

 and so among them we fish with suitable tackle, taking 

 advantage of every clear nook into which a bait can be dropped, 

 but always being careful not to fish any dead water ; for though 

 there may be a few pike in still water at this time of year, there 

 are many more in or on the edge of the stream, and where the 

 most jack are it is best policy to fish. Having well worked the 

 outskirts of this reed-bed, and caught three more pike — one a 

 fine fellow, weighing, let us say, 151b. — I punt slowly down to 

 the mill, and we join the jolly miller in his midday meal. 



The weir-pool (I) is surrounded by trees, and full of shady 

 nooks — the very place to fish on a hot summer's day; so in 

 the afternoon, while one of us whips for dace — our supply of 

 baits being rather small — another fishes a number of weedy 

 corners, which often contain jack, and meets with some success. 

 To describe the weir-pool in detail would be difficult and tedious. 

 Suffice it to say that wherever there is stream and weeds or 

 reeds combined, there is a chance of a jack, provided, of course, 

 the water is not too shallow. I cast my bait, on well-leaded 

 tackle, right into the rush of water known on the Thames as the 

 "lasher." There I catch a pike of some size, for the swift stream 

 is only near the surface, the water being quiet enough near the 

 bottom for a jack to lie. I also manage to take a fish to the 

 right of the lasher, close by the moss-covered piles (J) of the 

 weir. In the evening we punt down below the eel-bucks, and 

 fish the reeds (K) on the left, by the edge of which we catch the 

 fish of the day — a splendid pike of at least 201b. Evening is 

 now closing in, so, well satisfied with our day's sport, we moor 

 the punt to the bank — leaving her for an obliging miller's man to 

 take back to the boathouse — turn out of the well into the river 

 all the jack except the two largest and one which we send up to 

 the mill-house, and stroll slowly home across the water-meadows. 



It should be noticed that during this summer day's pike- 



