256 THE PIKE. 



other far behind. This may be carried on either with a live or 

 dead bait ; and in the latter instance sea as well as fresh water 

 fishes may be used. 



The rod for this purpose should be stout, yet in some degree 

 elastic, so that a pike when hooked may always be prevented from 

 straining too heavily on the line. The length of line requisite 

 will depend on the kind of trolling that is to be practiced. If a 

 live bait is employed the rod must be at least sixteen, and ought 

 even to be eighteen feet long, as it is only by means of a long rod 

 that a bait can be cast in lightly to such a distance as will often be 

 required ; for if soused in with a splash, it will not only be more 

 likely to excite suspicion amcng the fishes you are angling for, but 

 will very shortly thump all the life out of your bait. For a dead 

 bait, a rod of twelve feet, and in some instances, as I shall men 

 tion hereafter, one much shorter, will answer every necessary 

 purpose. 



A trolling rod, whether to be used with a live or a dead bait, 

 should be closely ringed ; the rings must be of stout wire, and 

 much larger than those used in a trout rod : that is, sufficiently 

 wide in diameter to admit a goose quill to be passed through them, 

 and should be iramoveably fixed, setting right straight out from the 

 rod, in order that the line may run the more readily through them. 

 When a live bait is used, a large multiplying reel should be fixed 

 to the butt of the rod, and should contain about thirty yards of 

 good strong line, to the end of which should be attached a swivel 

 to receive the snead of the hook, which must be of gimp. 



The most attractive bait seems to be a live gudgeon, though a 

 roach or a dace, or indeed most small fish, even to a minnow, will 

 answer the purpose. The hooks commonly employed are the bead 

 hooks ; when the pike is intended to be indulged in making a meal 

 on the bait, previous to his capture : and the spring snap, when he 

 is to be struck immediately, 



The bead hooks are two hooks of moderate size fixed together 

 back to back, to which a lead is fastened, by means of a small 

 brass chain, of about three or four links, attached to and coming 

 out between the bend of the two hooks. This lead should weigh 

 about five pennyweights, and be of an oblong form, sharp at the 

 extremity, but rounded at its junction, with the chain, is put into 

 the mouth of the fish bait, which is sewn up ; a stitch or two being 

 passed through the lower link of the chain, to keep it from slip- 



