THE AET OF SPINNING. 71 



towards the bait, and nearly parallel with, the water. Now 

 commence to spin. First draw the bait through the water 

 about 3ft. by a pull from the rod, keeping the rod-point 

 low ; then, with the left hand, take the line close to the first 

 finger of the right hand, and pull the line as far as you 

 can. As you do this, let the rod-point work round towards 

 the bait. Then a pull from the rod, followed by another 

 pull of the line, and the bait will keep up a continuous and 

 even spin. So far as my experience goes, a continuous and 

 steady spin is most killing. It is for this reason, probably, 

 that men who trail a bait behind a boat catch so many pike. 

 Pike often follow a bait for some distance, and if the bait 

 ceases to spin, they of course get a glimpse behind the 

 scenes, and realise that the whole thing is a play, and not 

 real (fish) life as they supposed. 



For fishing in shallow water we should, of course, use a 

 light lead — sometimes none ;* but where, in a rirer, shallows and 

 deeps alternate, the pike-fisher should use a lead of moderate 

 weight (about 3OZ.), and spin quickly over the shallows, keeping 

 the rod-point high, and slowly over the deeper portions of 

 the river, keeping the rod-point low. I have already indicated 

 where pike are to be found in winter and summer on 

 pages 9 to 16, and so, in answer to the question, " Where 

 shall we spin ? " I need only reply, " Where the jack are." 



When fishing a wide river in winter, float down it in a 

 punt, and cast on each side alternately. If the river is 

 narrow, the punt should be dropped down one side, and the 

 casts be made across the river, and rather down stream than 

 up ; and about every fifth cast should be made straight down 

 stream, along the course which the punt will take. When 

 fishing from the bank the procedure is similar. Fish across, 

 rather down than up, and every now and again cast down 

 stream under your own bank. Fish every yard of the water. 

 If the river is very clear, the fish can see the bait for some 

 distance, and therefore spin higher than you would were the 



* Mr. A. Cholmondeley-Pennell advises that, when no lead is required on the 

 trace, a short piece of lead-wire (the weight of which is not appreciable) be wound 

 round the trace, above the swivel, and about lin. of the end of the wire be 

 allowed to stick out at right angles to the trace. This is to prevent kinking. 



