THE JOLLY ANGLER. 73 



then holding the rod in the right hand, nearly two feet from 

 the butt, which should rest against the lower part of your 

 right side, swing the bait forth, at the same time letting 

 the line run through your left hand, which you can gently 

 close if you see it going too far, by which means you can 

 regulate to a nicety the spot your bait will fall in ; try first 

 up the stream, then down, and if no success, move on. 



When you get a bite (here called a run), which you will 

 perceive by the bait being suddenly pulled, held fast, or 

 sometimes only shook; immediately hold the point 

 of your rod down, and with the left hand keep two or 

 three yards of loose line ready, that he may not be checked 

 when he runs, which he will do ; in that case keep pulling 

 the line off the winch, and likewise let the rod point the 

 way he runs until he stops. Then, if he lies still two or 

 three minutes, shakes the line, and runs again, you may 

 pull or wind in the loose line, and strike. If a large fish, 

 he will generally keep near the bottom. Do not endeavour 

 to land him too soon. When he rises to the top of the 

 water, with his head towards you, do not pull hard, as I 

 have by that means pulled the bait out from the throat 

 (after having been gorged) through the fish plunging. 

 While he suffers himself to be guided quietly, lead him to 

 a suitable spot, and land him, either with a landing-hook, 

 or lift the fish out by grasping him in your hands; never 

 trust to the line, as the sudden motion of the fish when 

 you are lifting him out will sometimes clear him from the 

 hook. 



In fishing with a gorge-hook for Jack, when you have a 

 run, unless he acts as here described, I would advise you 

 to give him at least seven or eight minutes after taking the 

 bait before you strike; for observe, when a Pike is on the 

 feed, you can hardly lose him by any other means than 

 not giving him time enough. In Jack-fishing, you may 

 if you please affix the gimp of the hooks to the silk troll- 

 ing line, without any swivel or extra gimp; but observe, 

 whatever you fasten your gimp to, if looped, the loop ought 

 to be large enough to let the bait pass through. Your 

 disgorger for Jack ought to be on a larger scale than the 

 one you use for Perch. 



If the water is high or thick, it is useless trying in the 

 middle, or deep water, as during this time they lie close 



