PATERNOSTERING FOR PIKE. 55 



very slowly down the river in a boat, and fish all the most 

 likely spots (see page 10). Except in weir-pools, there is rarely 

 occasion to cast out the paternoster for any considerable distance 

 in summer. Indeed, to cast it out is a mistake ; it should rather 

 be swung out with the motion of a pendulum, and at the 

 moment the lead is over the right spot, the line, which is held 

 in the left hand, is released, and the lead and bait dropped 

 gently into the water. The less the disturbance of the water, 

 the more chance there is of catching fish. 



In winter (see page 73 as to line freezing), when there 

 are no weeds, the paternoster is very useful for fishing the 

 eddies and other lay-bys where pike are to be found. I need 

 hardly point out that one great advantage of' this tackle is 

 that it almost always puts the bait at about the right 

 distance from the bottom, however much the depth may 

 vary. To fish a large eddy it may be necessary to cast out 

 the paternoster some distance. Having cast it out, wait a 

 few minutes, then draw it in a few yards, wait, then draw 

 in again, and so on, until the eddy has been carefully fished 

 all over. How to cast out pike-tackle is described on page 52. 

 The method of gathering the line in the hand described on 

 page 73 will be often found very useful when paternostering. 



With small baits it is advisable to use a light lead, about 

 ^oz., and the longest top to the rod; while for heavier baits 

 a foz. lead is necessary, and a shorter top. When pater- 

 nostering, I have sometimes found pike bite so gently that 

 I have supposed the movement of the line was caused by the 

 struggles of the bait. To feel a bite it is necessary to keep 

 the line quite taut between the lead and the rod-top. I gene- 

 rally hold the rod in my right hand, and the line in my left 

 hand, and sometimes feel bites from the tugging at the line 

 before any movement of the rod- top is perceptible. When 

 a single hook is used, and the pike are not to be strack at 

 once, it is as well to lower the point of the rod 1ft. or 

 more immediately a bite is felt. 



A very novel form of paternoster was illustrated in the 

 Fishing Gazette of January 2, 1886. It was the invention of 

 a French nobleman living at Taunton, who had acquired a 



