THB PIKE. 257 



ping out, and notwithstanding the lead, the bait will swim with 

 the support it receives from the line, with nearly the same ease as 

 if at liberty. Sometimes a large cork float is used to buoy up the 

 bait. Another plan is to have the hooks as above, and sinkers to 

 the line, instead of the lead to the mouth ; one of these hooks is 

 just run through the fleshy part, of the back of the dorsal fin, and 

 may be angled with in the same way as the former. 



I have also often met with good sport, with a live minnow, bait- 

 ed by running the hook through the upper lip, or the fleshy part 

 of the back near the dorsal fin ; but when I have used this bait, I 

 have also used a float. With any of the above baits, when no float 

 is used, the bait should be dropped gently into the water, in such 

 places as the pike is likely to resort to, and should be kept con- 

 stantly in motion, when a bite will be easily detected, by a strong 

 succession of tugs the pike will then favour you with. When this 

 occurs, you must instantly give way to him, letting out line after 

 him as he sails off, and when he stops, allow him ample time for 

 his meal, which he will frequently take ten minutes about, before 

 he will effectually gorge the bait : when you think you have given 

 him time enough though he himself often gives you notice of it, 

 by shifting his position shorten in your line gradually, so as to 

 get your fish tight ; then strike right upwards, when the tug of 

 war will most certainly follow, to meet which, you must be pre- 

 pared to veer away line, should it be required, taking at the same 

 time, every possible care to prevent the pike from running you un- 

 der any weeds, or getting you foul of any roots, moats, stumps, 

 or other obstacles with which the waters may be encumbered ; when 

 he first feels the prick of the hook, a pike generally gives two or 

 three fierce struggles, as if to detach the hooks, and then darts 

 swiftly off, causing the line to chatter through the water with the 

 velocity of his motions, when, unless the line runs freely off, and 

 he is well followed up, he often breaks the line, asunder, and so 

 escapes. If you succeed in turning him, reel up again, and keep 

 him short : but still be prepared for another start, which he often 

 very unexpectedly makes, after suffering himself to be lugged un- 

 resistingly along for some considerable distance, and which he will 

 repeat, till becoming exhausted, he comes to the surface. If you 

 can keep him there, it will afford you the best chance of landing 

 him, more particularly if you can manage to keep his eyes above 

 the surface of the water, whilst approaching him with the landing 



