no THE FINE ART OF FISHING 



proofed, but for casting an undressed line must be used, 

 size E or F for mascalonge and large pike, size G for 

 pickerel. For pickerel the rods, reels, and lines used 

 for bass bait-casting and trolling are right. 



Baits of exceedingly various sorts are used for masca- 

 longe and pike, minnows natural and artificial, frogs, 

 spoons, and spinners, and some of the floating baits for 

 bass, the last made larger and stronger for mascalonge 

 fishing, but the most effective are a large natural min- 

 now or a common trolling spoon size four or five. A 

 steel wire leader should always be used. Gimp leaders 

 rot inside and will smash without warning visible to 

 the angler. In case a spinning bait is used, such as the 

 Archer spinner with minnow, frog, or pork-rind, use a 

 swivel gang composed of six or eight medium sized 

 bronze barrel swivels, or a trolling "keel" or "coin" 

 sinker, the last being a round, flat sinker the size and 

 shape of a five-cent piece which, when bent on the line, 

 forms a keel that effectually prevents the line from 

 twisting and kinking. Another device to prevent line- 

 kinking is known as the "Pilot"; this may be used also 

 to cause the bait to run at will on the surface or con- 

 siderably submerged. 



As both mascalonge and pike are very large fish it 

 is necessary to use a gaff in landing them. If the 

 writer is not greatly mistaken he has more than once 

 seen the common pickerel, fairly large as these fish run 

 on the average, leap on a practically slack line, although 

 tactics of this sort are not ordinarily ascribed to this 

 fish. It is fairly well known that the mascalonge is a 

 "jumper from Jumperville." Sportsmen are apt to dis- 



