)t8 THE PIKE. 



Steady nerves are required to gaff a big pike 

 properly. On several occasions I have nearly lost 

 a fine fish through the nervousness of an angling 

 companion, who has through an erratic stroke 

 nearly broken my line instead of gaffing the fish, 

 and would have succeeded in doing so had I not 

 dropped my rod point, slackened the line, and 

 played the fish another minute or two before 

 bringing it again to the gaff. I much prefer to 

 gaff fish myself, and my invariable practice is to 

 pull the gaff-point in, at, or between the under jaw- 

 bones ; then the hold is certain, and it never 

 disfigures a fish, an important thing if the pike is 

 large enough for a specimen. 



I have seen some anglers gaff just wherever they 

 could, sometimes through the cheek or in the back, 



TELF.SCOPIC-GAFP. 



and worst of all in the belly, ripping it all across 

 and completely disfiguring and spoiling the fish. 

 A pike should be quite played out and well in 

 hand before it is drawn within gaffing distance ; 

 and when it is, then the gaffer should not hesitate, 

 but make his stroke with certainty, and draw, not 

 lift, the fish ashore. 



Mr. Pennell advocates behind the shoulder as 

 the best place to gaff a pike. It is a safe place, no 

 doubt ; but the flesh is apt to be torn if the pike 

 writhes and struggles, which it usually does. As 

 already stated, my favourite position is in the under 



