Bait Angling for Common Fishes 



away ; then slowly reel in. At times he will 

 make a struggle, at other times he will come 

 quietly till he gets to the boat and then sud- 

 denly dash off ; in such cases be prepared to 

 let him work and give him the line he 

 wants. After he is brought back to the 

 boat get the net ready, for in taking a 

 pickerel from the water more fish get away 

 than are taken a net saves such disasters. 

 When the fish is laid in the boat have a 

 care how it is handled ; place the foot on its 

 head to keep it still while extracting the 

 spoon from its jaws; this done, give the 

 fish a few sharp raps on the head with a 

 short stick or piece of iron, to stop it from 

 leaping out of the boat; a pickerel often 

 makes a harder fight in the boat than in 

 the water. 



In still fishing with live bait either from 

 a boat landing or anchored out among the 

 weeds, a longer rod is more convenient. Use 

 the same line and reel as for trolling, but a 

 float should be attached, and the hook best 

 suited is a 2|o or 3(0 needle-eyed Sproat 



42 



