I2b THE PIKE. 



hooked through the upper lip only, and can breathe 

 very well on a square-bend hook. Draw six or 

 eight yards of line off from the reel, cast the bait 

 with a gentle swing into the water, and fish all the 

 nearest water first, gathering the line up slowly 

 with the fingers and thumb on to the palm of the 

 left hand in figure-of-eight coils, a knack easily 

 acquired with practice, slightly lifting and dropping 

 the point of the rod, continually gathering in the line 

 as described and keeping it moderately taut, thus 

 searching all the water, insinuating the bait into 

 eddies between weeds, and likely corners, and places 

 usually frequented by pike. Each time the bait is 

 withdrawn from the water (which should not be so 

 often as to kill it) the length of the cast may be 

 increased ; but a taut line should be kept and every 

 bit of water searched by lifting the rod top slightly 

 and drawing in a yard or two of line ; then, by 

 dropping the rod point, the plummet finds the 

 bottom, and the bait pirouettes round about. 



Thus quietly moving and fishing fresh places 

 (and close to weeds, if any), where the bait should 

 remain a few seconds, if a pike is near, the bait is 

 almost sure to be taken, which will be apparent by 

 its being arrested and probably shaken, when a yard 

 or two of line should be paid out, and three or four 

 seconds allowed for the pike to turn the bait 

 head-first into its mouth, and then a firm draw 

 given (rather than a strike) by smartly elevating 

 the point of the rod ; or if the pike runs with 

 the bait, draw the rod the contrary way to the 

 direction the fish is taking, and the chances are it 

 will be securely hooked, most probably in the angle 

 of the upper and lower jaw, where the hook is not 

 likely to break away. 



