THE SPINNING BAIT AND ITS TACKLE 139 



and below the trace to prevent the line twisting above 

 it, and may be any of the long slender leads which 

 take this position. Immediately below the lead I 

 have a double swivel and no others. Swivels should 

 be of brass and always kept well oiled. 



Chapman spinners I always endeavour to have in 

 several sizes, using the smallest one which will satis- 

 factorily spin any particular bait. Now that preserved 

 baits are so much used a Chapman spinner is parti- 

 cularly useful, for unless glycerine is mixed with the 

 preservative the baits get very tough and stiff, and 

 will not curve nicely. I attach great importance to 

 having every part of the tackle in due proportion to 

 the rest. If a very small bait is used, then the hooks 

 must be small, the fans at the head of the spinner 

 small, the gimp fine, and gut of medium thickness. 

 If a rather large bait has to be trailed, as is the case 

 in some of the big Irish or Scotch lakes, then the 

 line and trace must be stout, the hooks fairly big, and 

 the rod strong, for with a big bait heavy striking is 

 necessary if we are to get the hooks away from the 

 bait into the pike's mouth. 



There are several excellent new forms of Chapman 

 spinners intended to hold the bait well up to the 

 fans, but I do not know that one catches more pike 

 with them than with the old pattern, the fans of 



