44 ANGLING FOR PIKE. 



float-fishing. Between the main line and the hooks should be 

 6ft. of either 000 patent gimp (see page 32), or salmon-gut, 

 knotted and stained according to the directions in Chapter II. 

 At the end of the gut, or gimp, as the case may be, is a tapered 

 lead, with a hole down its centre, which should be painted 

 a dull brown colour in winter and a quiet green in summer 

 and autumn, and be kept in its place on the gimp by means 

 of a tiny plug of wood. Below the lead is a hook- swivel. 

 Of hook-swivels there are many patterns, but I need only 

 mention the one shown in Fig. 21, which is excellent in every 

 respect. It is easily fastened to the other 

 portion of the tackle, and is absolutely safe. 

 I do not know the inventor, but as it is a 

 novelty, it may be well to mention that it is 

 made by Wanier & Sons, of Redditch. Another 

 very good hook-swivel is shown attached to a 

 spinning lead in Fig. 38. 



The " Fishing Gazette " float (shown in Fig. 20) 

 is the best pike-float made. It should not, unless 

 the baits used are very large, be of greater size 

 than a hen's egg. It is kept in its place on 

 Fig 21 Hook- *^® gi^P ^7 i3aeans of a peg. The old-fashioned 

 SWIVEL. floats also had a hole down their centres, but 

 were without the slit in the side which enables 

 the modem float to be taken on or off the line in a moment. 

 In addition to the large float,* one or two small ones are ad- 

 visable above it, at distances of 12in. or 18in. They keep the line 

 from sinking (sometimes it sinks so low that the bait swims 

 round it) and getting entangled with the float, and also help 

 the angler to judge, when his float goes under, whether the 

 disappearance is merely an effort of the bait to escape, or 

 a run from a pike.f It is perhaps as well for the beginner 



* Some pike-fishermen use no large float, but five or six small ones, a plan which 

 allows the bait great freedom, and is, so far, superior to the tackle illustrated ; but 

 to move so many floats when the depth has to be changed is inconvenient, and 

 occasions a loss of time. Probably, as many jack would be caught by one method 

 as by the other, 



t I advise all anglers, when using float-tackle, to rub a little grease over the line, 

 to cause it to float. Almost any grease will do ; red deer's kidney suet, sold by 

 Eaton and DeUer, is perhaps the best. Palm oil answers well ; so does beef suet. 



