70 THE PIKE. 



foot from the surface of the water to their own 

 discomfiture. 



Spinning is grand sport when pike are roving 



about in search of food ; then is the best time. 



Spin your bait a yard or two in front of a 



>P1 the feeding fish, and ten to one it will be 



finest seized with a rush that will make you 



sport ... 



burn with excitement. 1 well remem- 

 ber when the late H. L. Rolfe (the Landseer of 

 fish painters) was my companion, on December 

 2Oth, 1876, fishing a grand expanse of water 

 where pikes fed fast and furiously all that short 

 winter's day. My friend was not very well, and 

 as the weather was cold he sat for some time 

 in the stern of the boat wrapped up in a rug, leav- 

 ing me to do the fishing. Pike were breaking the 

 water all around us, and the bait had only to be 

 spun near a fish to be instantly seized. The results 

 of that day's sport were fifty-four jack and pike, the 

 largest i/lbs., and three fine perch, from 3lbs. to2lbs. 

 each. The waggonette arriving, it was time to pack 

 up my rod and tackle ; but on nearing the boat- 

 house I made one parting cast, and landed a pike 

 of 1 1 Ibs. 



When near to trees or weed-beds, and there is 

 danger of casting the bait into them, the angler 

 should let his line run lightly through his left 

 hand, instantly closing his fingers and thus put- 

 ting a check on it, if the bait is likely to fall 

 where it may get hung up in boughs or other 

 obstructions. By thus arresting his cast and letting 

 the bait fall into an open place, he will avoid many 

 breakages and save much tackle during a day's 

 spinning, especially in a narrow river where bushes 

 and willows margin the water, or .old pollard trunks 



