68 TROLLING. 



It is possible that the indignation roused by 

 the sudden intrusion of a despised small fish, 

 evidently in bad circumstances, into his domestic 

 privacy, may have something to do with the 

 result; for the pike is not very keen at this 

 time of the year, and rarely leaves his lurking-place 

 in search of food, taking, like the spider, whatever 

 good luck may send him. Be that as it may, the 

 temptation is irresistible, at least unresisted, and 

 a slight curl in the water, a scarcely visible wave 

 in the weeds, with an almost imperceptible check 

 on the line, tell you that your bait is taken. 

 Later in the year say in October when the 

 pike comes out to feed, this is followed by a 

 sharp run of a few feet or yards, as the case may 

 be, towards his lair ; to which, with the fish cross- 

 ways in his mouth, as a dog carries a bone, he 

 invariably returns before swallowing it. In the 

 early part of the season, however, but a few inches 

 of line are taken, sometimes none, and the fisher- 

 man is in pleasing doubt whether he has hold of 

 a jack, a root, or a weed. Whichever it be, his 

 tactics are of the simplest order a masterly in- 

 action. Letting out two or three yards of line, 

 in case they should be wanted, you have nothing 

 to do but look at your watch, note the time exactly, 

 and then smoke the pipe of expectation ; read your 



