130 THE PIKE 



In a little weedy piece of water, where fishing is 

 only possible in small open spaces in the aquatic 

 vegetation, the paternoster or snap-trolling tackle 

 must be used; spinning, under such conditions, is 

 out of the question. Or if we find ourselves by a very 

 small river, or a piece of ornamental water not more 

 than, say, a quarter of an acre in extent, then, unless 

 our time is very limited, it is better to live-bait with 

 float tackle or paternoster than to spin, for a small 

 piece of water is so soon spun over. In any place 

 where the weeds would interfere with the use of 

 spinning tackle, or it is desirable to fish patiently for 

 some time in a limited space, spinning is decidedly a 

 mistake. At the same time, if, after working live- bait 

 for the greater part of the day, we meet with no 

 success, it is certainly desirable to try the experiment 

 of covering the water with the spinning bait before 

 giving up in despair, one example of which is given 

 in an earlier chapter. In small lakes it sometimes 

 happens that pike take spinning baits much more 

 readily than live-baits, and two notable instances of 

 this occur to me. 



I was fishing some years ago in private water in 

 Ireland. It was a delightful spot ; a small reedy lake 

 surrounded by woodlands, nestled in the hollow of 

 the hills, and the bright green lawn of my friend's 



