88 A BOOK ON ANGLING 



I have before said, I prefer slow spinning, as it gives the fish 

 more time to see the bait ; but it must not be so slow as to 

 spoil the spinning. I do not know that I can give the reader 

 a better idea of how to regulate this than to quote Mr. Pennell's 

 words on the subject. He says : " The draws or pulls and the 

 corresponding movements of the rod must of course be varied 

 in length and rapidity according to the depth of the water, 

 size of bait, and other circumstances ; but a good medium 

 speed, when the left hand is carried well back, is about forty 

 draws per minute." This, as Mr. Pennell says, is a medium 

 pace. 



To fish a stream properly, that method is the best which 

 enables you to cover the most water with the greatest ease 

 and the shortest time, and the best way is to cast across and 

 rather down-stream, and to repeat it three or four yards 

 farther down and nearer to you until you have fished all the 

 water you can cover when move on. Always fish your cast 

 out and do not be in a hurry to withdraw the bait, as pike often 

 follow it and take it close to the boat or the bank. Greville F. 

 tells a story in the Field of one following the bait with such 

 good will that, missing it, he ran his head against a post and 

 stunned himself, and was thus lifted out in the landing-net 

 without more ado. Some anglers prefer to cast up-stream 

 where there is not much current, and draw down, under the 

 impression that the fish has thus a better chance of seeing the 

 bait ; but straight casts up or down should be avoided as much 

 as possible, as the fish sees too much of the line. 



If the angler feels a check or stoppage of the line while he 

 is drawing it home, he has to decide whether it is a fish or a weed 

 or other obstruction. Usually if it be a fish he will feel the 

 tug ; or, if he drops the point of the rod, the line will move 

 off ; but if he feels nothing of this, let him tighten the line by 

 raising the point slightly, when he will be able to decide the 

 question at once. If he has reason to believe that the check 

 proceeds from a fish, he must strike directly and straight back 

 and firmly, holding his fish rather tightly for the first few 

 seconds, so as to embed the hooks in the pike's hard mouth 

 before letting him work his wicked will ; he can then ease him 

 a little and play him to the best of his ability. Some anglers, 

 when they feel a run, give the fish a few seconds. This is 

 quite optional ; but it is not necessary, as a pike seldom 

 misses his grip if he means to take the bait, and as he holds it 

 crosswise in his jaws, he has as much of the bait in his mouth 



