MANAGEMENT OF LIVE BAIT. pi 



range exactly double, when the substance is an 

 animated body in water ; thus, if a gut line will 

 just raise 3 Ibs. from the dead level of the ground, 

 it will hold a fish of 6 Ibs. in water, and this difference 

 is still greater when a pliable rod is the sustaining 

 medium, therefore it is the greatest folly to employ 

 needlessly powerful tackle even for pike. 



We, nevertheless, advise the use of tackle needful 

 for the largest fish of the species you may be angling 

 for, that are known to be present in the length fished. 

 To omit so doing would be to remove all prospects of 

 landing a good fish ; but exaggeration is rife in these 

 matters, and the popular idea is, that the most power- 

 ful tackle is essential for successful pike fishing, of 

 whatever nature it may be. But to return, the move- 

 ments of the roving bait must be carefully observed 

 where practicable ; and if, owing to the state of the 

 water, this is not possible, the rodster must follow the 

 movements of the bait by the feel conveyed by the 

 line, and care must be taken not to distress the bait, 

 or it will soon be exhausted. When a fish takes the 

 bait, a minute or two should be allowed him to gorge 

 it. In some localities the custom is to use a single 

 gimp hook, which is attached to the upper lip of the 

 bait ; this, however, causes it to move in an unnatural 

 way, with the tail uppermost, and cannot be said to 

 equal the method previously described. 



We now come to fly-fishing for pike. That these 

 fish would take a natural fly is even less probable 

 than in the case of salmon. A jack will come with 

 evident gusto at a bird, just as he would at a rat, 



