PIKE FISHING IN RIVERS 87 



succeeded. Here was the master position, and it 

 was the biggest fish that held the castle against all 

 comers. 



In a later chapter on Trolling a brief description is 

 given of a somewhat modern tackle which superseded 

 the discredited dead gorge. This is so useful in rivers 

 that there need be no apology for touching upon the 

 subject in this place. The spinning bait, as we have 

 seen, very frequently passes over a fish at too great a 

 distance above. It is the nature of the pike to have 

 his fits of lethargy. He may be out of temper ; he 

 may be full, or half filled with food, and will not eat 

 without some irresistible temptation. At such times 

 of abstinence a silvery bleak or dace, an imitation 

 trout, or attractive spoon will spin in vain over his 

 head. It is too much trouble ; he is not inclined to 

 set his fins in motion for the upward dash and forward 

 rush that will come to him naturally enough when he 

 is sharp set. You must then appeal, not to his carnal 

 desires, but to the demon that is in him. 



You may sometimes provoke him if you are using 

 a bait that will descend to his level. A properly 

 adjusted dainty on the snap tackle devised for the 

 purpose is precisely the temptation, perhaps the only 

 one, likely to move the pike. This theory of going 

 down to your fish was the strong feature of the old 



