170 CASTING TACKLE AND METHODS 



a landing net, buy one with a separate head and a 

 gaff hook that fits the net handle and then see to it 

 that that hook is always in your tackle-box, then 

 when that "unexpected" big pike comes along, your 

 companion can quickly disengage the net-head and 

 substitute the convenient gaff. Always, then, the 

 angler has a convenient and dependable gaff as well 

 as a landing net with him. That "unexpected" pike 

 deserves a bit of attention for no bass fan is willing 

 to have a ten pound pike escape. A pistol- is a con- 

 venient tool, lacking which a good thick club can be 

 made to serve right well; a single whack between 

 the wicked eyes will effectually quiet him so that he 

 can be lifted into the boat, where his spine should be 

 quickly severed with a knife-blade thrust. The 

 rodster should be certain that the fish is thoroughly 

 wearied before he strikes with the club, lest a 

 disastrous and grave thing happens to him, he 

 strikes the line just in front of the fish's nose. 



As an illustration of the "unexpected pike" allow 

 me to narrate a personal experience. I was shore 

 casting on a certain noted Wisconsin river, all by my 

 lonesome. Three nice bass had come to my net and 

 I was about returning to camp, when a whim pos- 

 sessed me to make "just one more cast" in the direc- 

 tion of a weed-bed some 30 yards distant. Now, 

 just because I payed a little attention to the cast it 

 was a perfect one, and a monstrous pike took my 

 lure, a "Chippewa" underwater. What a fight it 



