62 PIKE AND OTHER COARSE FISH. 



The best ' flight' to use with it are two flying triangles of different- 

 lengths, the gimp being pushed upwards and through a hole 

 in the apex after the ' head ' has been sewed on, or before if 

 preferred. In the latter case the flying triangles can be made 

 to stand out on opposite sides by means of the stitching. I 

 forgot to say that I 'bronzed' one half the head the half 

 coming next to the bait's back with Brunswick black. 



Every spinner will be wise to carry in his trolling-book at 

 least one or two imitation baits in case he should find himself 

 left without natural ones. 



With all artificial baits it is a good rule to remember that 

 fish should be struck the very instant they take, as the first feel 

 of the bait between their jaws is apt to undeceive them as 

 to its true nature, and the next instinct is that of summary 

 ejection. 



Amongst ' recognised ' artificial pike-baits which demand a 

 passing notice in taking leave of the subject, I should here 

 mention perhaps the ' pike-fly,' which, like the ' spoon-bait,' has 

 become to some extent historical. I cannot help thinking, 

 however, that it is rather entitled to a niche amongst the curio- 

 sities of angling literature than to a place in the trailer's equip- 

 ment for actual campaigning. My friend, the late Mr. Stoddart, 

 whose charming books have given delight to at least two fishing 

 generations, places on record a very similar expression of 

 opinion. 'I used,' he says, 'to practise it (pike-fishing with 

 the fly) with tolerable success in a shallow loch in Fife ; I have 

 also tried it in Perthshire, but the result of my experiment with 

 the pike- fly is a conviction that it is not a lure at all attractive 

 to large or even middle-sized fish.' 



The pike-fly is also occasionally used in the Norfolk 

 broads, and it is fair to say that according to written testimony l 

 the experience of Norfolk trollers, whilst more favourable to the 

 pike-fly, is exactly opposed to that recorded by Mr. Stoddart. 

 The writer in the Field to whom I refer alleges that in 

 Norfolk, large-sized pike frequently take it freely when none 



1 J'ielJ, July 24. 1865. 



