18 



ROD 6- CREEL 



here belongs I have not yet been able to ascertain, or even to 

 get a good description of the fish. They have been reported as 

 being caught up to thirty-five pounds weight in Cunningham 

 Lake, which is close to and runs into Stewart Lake. 



The pike is a powerful fish and puts up a hard fight so 

 that probably when these waters are easier of access pike fish- 

 ing will become a regular sport there as it is to the east of 

 the Rockies (that is, provided the pike really are here). 



In the sixteenth century in England, pike fishing was prac- 

 tised in a great variety of ways, one of which is so novel it is 

 worth mentioning: 



A live roach, dace or gudgeon was put on what was called 

 a "snap tackle." This had a short wire trace and a piece of 

 line, in all not much more than four or five feet long. The end 

 of the line was fastened to the leg of a duck or a goose, which 

 was liberated into the water and allowed to swim about as it 

 pleased. A pike would take the bait and start off. The duck 

 would often be pulled right under and come up quacking loudly. 

 There would be a hard fight but the duck always came out best 

 in the end. "With geese there was even more fun as, though 

 the pike could not pull them under, they made much more fuss 

 than the ducks, and always made for shore as soon as possible. 



If you go up into the northern country and get tired of 

 catching fish in the orthodox way, you can try this method ! 



