84 ' THE PIKE. 



"Clipper," and "Lightning" spinner, are all of 

 them fairly good substitutes for natural baits when 

 the latter cannot be obtained. For two or three 

 years I have been experimenting with, and trying 

 to perfect, a phosphorescent spinning-bait, to be 

 used in very deep waters, such as Irish loughs and 

 weir-pools, or for sea-fishing at night. The diffi- 

 culty is to find a phosphorescent liquid that is not 

 explosive. I have partly succeeded in doing so ; 

 but the various luminous paints do not answer 

 at all. 



If the tyro finds it difficult to put a natural bait 

 on a flight, so that it will spin properly, he can use 

 a " Chapman " spinner, on which a bait spins well ; 

 but the disadvantage of this tackle is, that after 

 being in action a short time, the tender interior of 

 the bait with which you are spinning yields to the 

 constant strain on the tiny hook, and there is a 

 gradual withdrawal of the flanges from the mouth 

 of the bait In my own opinion the "Archer" 

 spinner and the " Abbey Mills " spinner are very 

 much better tackles for dead natural bait. 



There is another bait-spinner known as Hardy's 

 " Crocodile," which I have not used myself ; but it 

 appears to be an excellent one, from which the bait 

 cannot become detached, or pike which go for it 

 escape being hooked. A capital spinner for dead 

 baits is the " Coxon," patented by Allcock and Co. 

 It is easily and quickly baited ; has a natural 

 appearance when spinning, the rotary motion being 

 given by curving the metal placed within the bait, 

 which, owing to the arrangement of side hooks, 

 cannot easily strip when drawn through weeds. 

 The last artificials I shall mention are " Phantom- 

 baits," made of silk, also of sole-skin, and not the 



