14 ANGLING FOR PIKE. 



We then go to the mill, borrow the miller's punt, and fish 

 for a short time at the tail of the mill island (6). Thence we 

 pass on to another island, and fish a deep hole (7) just above 

 the eel-bucks, some quiet water below them (8), and also 

 at the tail of the island (9) ; after which we go home with 

 glorious appetites, and the wherewith to satisfy them. 



On the day I have described the river is rather high, and 

 slightly coloured — in fact, in its most favourable condition for 

 winter pike-fishing. If it were much lower, we should be 

 inclined to fish more in the stream, and not quite so much in 

 the eddies; and if the water were very thick, we should leave 

 the very deep holes unfished. 



Pike-fishing usually ends on March 15th, and in rivers the 

 fish often bite best during the last fortnight of the season. 

 They are then chiefly to be found at the mouths of ditches 

 and drains, up which they will go a few weeks later for the 

 purpose of spawning. The mouth of the deep drain marked 4 

 on my sketch would then, as I have said, be a suitable place 

 to look for them, and also the mouth of the ditch shown on 

 the right hand of the mill-tail. As a matter of fact, good sport 

 may be expected with the pike any day between October and 

 the end of the season, provided the weeds have rotted and been 

 swept away by a flood, and the river is not over its banks, and 

 neither muddy nor very bright. The best fishing is obtained 

 when the water is slightly coloured. 



In lakes and ponds, as in rivers, pike are found among 

 and close to weeds, reeds, and rushes, and in winter, when 

 the weeds are absent, in deep rather than shallow water. 

 In hot weather they often lie close to the surface. In very 

 large lakes, with rocky shores and few weeds, the best pike 

 will often be found close to the shore, provided only the 

 water is tolerably deep. In ponds they may be looked for 

 anywhere, when well on the feed, and roaming about for food.* 



It has always seemed to me that there are three kinds of 



* When a pond or lake is surrounded by weeds and reeds, it is sometimes a good 

 plan to beat the water near the banks a few hours before Ashing. Or a dog may be 

 sent among the reeds. This is to drive the pike out into the clear water. Not- 

 withstanding the fright they receive, they often feed well after this treatment. 

 At the same time, I do not recommend this plan very strongly, and only follow it 

 under exceptional circumstances. 



