44 



THE PIKE. 



which fit so accurately that the joints cannot come 

 asunder unless some force is used ; but if fasten- 

 ings are necessary, then the ordinary small metal 

 loops may be bound on to the ferrules and plugs, 

 which, whipped round with three or four turns of 

 thread, will effectually prevent the joints coming 

 loose under the swinging and swaying of casting 

 a spinning-bait or when trolling. There are im- 

 proved methods for fixing joints that have been 

 applied to fishing rods ; among them are the lock- 

 fast and the bayonet-fastening. 



The rings on a pike rod should be large and all 

 of one size. Mine measure f inch inside diameter, 



GUARD RING. 



and are of the kind known as guard rings ; the line 

 cannot foul or twist round them, and accidental 

 tangles easily pass through, a matter of great 

 importance when playing a heavy fish. 



The bridge ring is another useful one, round 

 which the line cannot foul. With the snake rings, 



BRIDGE RING. 



I have repeatedly found lines to jam (especially 

 when fishing in frosty weather) at the angles where 

 the wire is bound on to the rod-joints. The best 

 material for rings is phosphor-bronze ; it is light 

 but strong, and does not rust ; the butt and next 



