174 THE BRITISH ANGLER'S LEXICON. 



it ; and as it is strong and furnished with numerous and 

 very sharp teeth, the tackle should be of suitable strength,. 

 and where traces are employed fine gimp must take the 

 place of gut. If live bait is employed it is usual to work 

 it with a float, as the line being long it is nearly impossible 

 to keep the bait at the proper depth, which is about mid- 

 water. The float effects this, and the leaded line keeps it 

 from rising to the surface. Care should be taken to prevent 

 the live bait from getting into weeds, by reeling in the line 

 until the danger is past. As soon as a pike seizes the bait, 

 the float disappearing denotes this fact, when the angler 

 should allow the line to run off smoothly as any tightening 

 of it may cause the fish to be suspicious and to leave the 

 bait. After a little the line ceases running, during which 

 time the pike is gorging the bait; when it moves again is 

 the time to strike, and after a little play the first rush is 

 the worst it may be brought to net. The snap hook is 

 employed when the pike is wary and not inclined for other 

 modes. The small hook of this tackle is fastened to the 

 back fin, and the two large hooks lie against the side of the 

 fish. When the pike seizes the snap bait whether gudgeon,, 

 dace, or minnow the angler must strike at once ; this 

 action withdraws the snap, causing the hooks to expand in 

 the mouth of the fish, and prevents it ejecting the bait. 

 Trolling with dead bait is also a successful mode of fishing, 

 using the gorge hook. The best baits are gudgeon or dace. 

 The baiting needle is thrust down the body of the fish and 

 out at tail, drawing the gimp-fastened gorge hook after it, 

 until the hooks come in against the sides of the mouth of 

 the bait. The tail of the bait may be fastened to the gimp 

 with a lashing of thread, to keep it straight. The trace 

 should be joined to the looped gimp by a hook swivel. 



