SMALLER LAKES 143 



pike and perch bite best and are habitually fished 

 for in summer, and not, as in other districts, in 

 autumn and winter, when they are, of course, in 

 the very best condition. There may be something 

 in the fact that in an area which is primarily a 

 salmon and trout district, the coarse fish are left 

 to visitors ; or, in other words, that they are not 

 generally fished for by natives when they are most 

 in season. As compared with Windermere, the 

 pike in Esthwaite run to a larger average size, and 

 they are equally good fish. 



Here the favourite method of pike-fishing is by 

 trolling, and occasional exceptionally large perch 

 are got whilst trolling for pike. The most killing 

 natural pike baits are small roach and perch (the 

 natives cut the dorsal fin off when a perch is used) ; 

 and phantoms or wagtails if artificials are used. 



One of the best takes of pike that has been had 

 in Esthwaite Lake during the present season was 

 by two gentlemen from Birkenhead. The catch 

 was at the end of July, and consisted of twenty- 

 four fish, the largest being 1 1 J Ibs. One of them 

 fished a spoon, the other a natural bait on a 

 spinner. 



The perch here run fairly large and bite freely. 

 They are taken by float-fishing or with a pater- 

 noster. 



In fishing Esthwaite it is advisable to get a local 

 man to row the boat, as, late in the season, the 

 reeds and weeds are troublesome. 



Two or three days may be pleasantly spent here 

 in late summer or early autumn ; and the lake 

 may be fished from the Ferry on Windermere ; 

 from Far Sawrey, Near Sawrey or Hawkshead. 

 Accommodation is good and charges reasonable. 



