OX LANDING A PIKE. 125 



angles I certainly do lose a good many fish, and the more 

 triangles the angler employs the harder he must strike to 

 be on the safe side. 



If a pike runs deep when struck, hold a firm hand upon 

 him, so as to keep his head up out of the weeds ; and 

 always, if possible, particularly if he is a big one, keep the 

 point of the rod behind him so as to pull the hooks into 

 his mouth instead of out of it. If the fish be straight 

 down stream below you, rather drop to him than pull 

 against him, for if when you are so pulling he happens to 

 open his mouth and give his head a shake or two, it is a 

 hundred to one that he shakes himself free, unless your 

 hold is very good indeed. If a pike comes to the top 

 of the water, standing on his tail as it were (as if you were 

 weighing him), and with open mouth 'grins ghastly' at 

 you, shaking his head to and fro savagely, you are in no 

 little danger of losing him. I have lost scores in thi* 

 way. The only thing to do is to drop the point of the rod 

 ami let him have nothing to struggle against, when he 

 Vv-ill speedily recover his horizontal ; for if you hang on to 

 him, you are unusually lucky if you kill him. Get the 

 point of the rod down to the surface of the water if he 

 shows symptoms of coming to the top, so that the weight 

 of line may aid in deterring him. 



If you lose a fish after playing him for a turn or two, 

 let not a moment pass before throwing again to the spot 

 where you lost him, and he will possibly take the bait 

 again ; for Pikey is very likely looking all round him in 

 desperation at losing his prey, and does not feel his 

 scratches more than a wounded tiger or shark does, while 

 his rage is kindled against the insignificant being which 

 lias scratched him and then run away. It is doubtful 

 indeed nine times in ten if the pike feels any pain at all, 

 as his mouth is so hard and gristly. Of course, however, 



