PIKE FISHING SPINNING. 79 



trace is passed two or three times round the lip-hook with the 

 object of course of keeping it fixed in its position ; if it slipped 

 from such position either upwards or downwards, the spinning 

 of the bait would be instantly destroyed. But it often happens 

 that as the trace gets softer or more slippery from wear it is 

 necessary, in order to keep it from slipping, to increase the 

 number of turns round the lip-hook, and the point is how to 

 do this without first pulling one end of the trace through the 

 loop of the lip-hook, which would necessitate cutting or unlapping 

 the loop of the former. I will try and explain, although it is 

 very difficult to do so verbally, how this trouble may be avoided 

 and the additional turns given without pulling the trace through 

 the eye of the lip-hook : Detach the trace from the running 

 line if possible from below the lead then take the lip-hook 

 by the bend firmly between the finger and thumb of the left hand, 

 push a little of the trace downwards through the eye or top loop 

 with the right hand, then pull out from below two or three 

 inches ; next take hold of the trace close to the part which is 

 already twisted, and give it an extra twist round the shank. 

 Hold the fresh twist in its place by the pressure of the first 

 finger of the left hand and taking the extreme end of the trace 

 between the finger and thumb of the right hand pass it from 

 below through the remaining loop left by the originally pulled- 

 in couple of inches of the trace ; now pull the trace tight with 

 the right hand, and it will be found that another turn or twist 

 has been added round the shank. In order to reduce the 

 number of turns reverse the latter part of the process. It is 

 very difficult to convey this sort of information verbally, but I 

 think with a careful reading of the above instructions and some 

 little patience the difficulty should be mastered. 



In taking leave of the subject of spinning-flights and traces 

 I will add a suggestion which may not be found without prac- 

 tical utility : with the exception of the ' lip-hook,' I generally 

 cover the lappings of all hooks used in spinning-tackle with 

 silver or gold tinsel, which, perhaps, somewhat increases the 

 attractive effect of the bait, and certainly makes the tackle last 



