72 THE PIKE 



CHAPTER V 



PIKE FISHING IN RIVERS 



THE fascination of the lake, notwithstanding the 

 certainty of the fish being there and the comparative 

 ease with which they are to be taken, does not weaken 

 the undoubted fact that, to the man in full health 

 and vigour, the best of sport will be obtained from 

 the river. If one could arrive at the real predilections 

 of the pike, we may be certain that he, too, would 

 prefer the active stream. Life must be just a little 

 too easy for him among the water weeds of the placid 

 lakes, where the hunting for prey, which must be 

 one of the delights of his existence, is apt to be tame 

 and unexciting. 



The pike, we may take it for granted, loves the 

 river and flourishes in it, and it is wonderful how he 

 will explore the ditches and brooks to find his way to 

 it. We need not believe that pike are gifted with the 

 power, or are wont to indulge in the habit, of wriggling 



