PIKE FISHING IN LAKES 47 



box at the other end of the lake had, through the 

 rottenness of the bottom boards, escaped ; and we 

 had only about fifteen to carry us through the day. 



We rowed off to untried ground, cast out our 

 anchor, and resolved to be exceedingly careful with 

 the baits. My very first cast, nevertheless, sent the 

 roach hurtling unattached through the air, and there 

 was one precious bait lost. My pike of the previous 

 day had been caught on one Jardine snap which had 

 done service before, and this I now replaced with new 

 tackle. My float was in action a few minutes when 

 it was taken under in a finicking sort of way, came 

 smartly up again, and behaved in such a delusive 

 manner that I determined baits being a serious 

 consideration not to be in a hurry. The result was 

 the securing of a 6-lb. pike, and this, especially 

 remembering the previous experience, I resolved to 

 keep for the sake of luck, rescue or no rescue. 



There is no need to go through the details of that 

 second day's indifferent fishing. The pike were taking 

 just as badly as they had been taking gallantly on the 

 previous day, and as we had a number of futile runs 

 with our live baits we agreed to spin, our hope being 

 that the fish would come on in earnest in the afternoon, 

 when the remaining live bait would be wanted. My 

 friend happened to have three spoons with him. I 



