HINTS ON TROLLING. 85 



Fig. 49. Eacli lead can be taken on or off the gimp, and larger 

 or smaller leads be put in its place. Tlie double hook can also 

 be removed, and be replaced by a smaller or larger one. The 

 angler, provided with three or four double hooks of the pattern 

 shown, and of various sizes, half-a-dozen leads (differing in 

 weight), a piece of gimp, and a baiting-needle, can adjust his 

 tackle to any bait within ordinary limits of size. It is also a 

 decided advantage to have a flexible lead, for there is hardly any 

 doubt that pike often refuse to gorge baits on the old-fashioned 

 tackle on account of their unnatural stiffness. For use in 

 shallow water, fewer leads should be in the bait than in deep 

 water. 



I have said that rod, line, hook, and baiting-needle, are the 

 only pieces of tackle necessary for trolling. Personally, I like 

 in addition about l^yd. of fine, stained, patent gimp, terminated 

 by a small hook-swivel (see page 44), placed between the running 

 line and the gimp (in this case only 2ft. in length) to which the 

 hook is attached. Trolling-baits often take into their heads to 

 spin a little, especially if the fins are cut on one side only, and 

 the swivel prevents the line from kinking. It is, moreover, 

 easier to unhook the gimp when a new bait is required, than to 

 untie the gimp from the line. . 



Trollers share with spinners the advantage of having to carry 

 no live baits. It is a good plan to get several hooks baited 

 before a start is made in the morning ; but whether on hooks or 

 not, the baits, which should be as fresh as possible, are best 

 carried in a piece of damp linen, or laid in bran or nettles in a 

 tin box, with plenty of small holes in the lid. But beware 

 of the bran going sour, and tainting the baits, as it will do 

 sometimes in less than twenty-four hours. 



Before discussing the subject how to troll, it may be well to 

 describe the 



New Snap Trolling Tackle, to which I have already 

 referred. A short history is attached to it. Some years ago 

 I saw a snap trolling tackle belonging to Parrott, one of the 

 Henley fishermen. He did not speak of it very highly, and the 

 reason of its non-success was clearly the fact that, when baited, 

 the gimp was attached to the head of the bait, which had in 



