1 88 PIKE AND OTHER COARSE FISH. 



As an experimentalist myself I have found that a further improve- 

 ment of the hook was possible, and by making the lead in jaints I 

 think I have succeeded in perfecting the gorge hook par excellence. 

 I found that the rigid inflexible lead often deterred the pike from 

 swallowing, owing to its teeth meeting the unyielding centre lead ; 

 and so after many trials I found my device so superior as to warrant 

 me in introducing it to the public. 



The best trace for gorge-bait fishing is about four feet of 

 fine stained gimp with a hook swivel at the bottom so that the 

 hooks can be readily attached and detached upon a change of 

 size in the baits used. 



No other swivel is absolutely necessary, but if the bottom 

 of the trolling line is attached to a hook swivel, as recom- 

 mended for all trolling lines, some little additional play may 

 be thereby imparted to the bait. The rod, reel, and line re- 

 commended for spinning are also those most suitable to trolling 

 with the gorge-bait. 



.WORKING THE GORGE-BAIT. 



I have dealt with this part of the subject so fully in the 

 'Book of the Pike' that I here quote it in extenso. Subsequent 

 impressions have not indicated any modification in the modus 

 oberandi therein laid down. As a further excuse for this and 

 several other extracts from my own previous writings, it may 

 be remarked that the same mechanical facts can hardly be 

 described by the same person without employing, to a consider- 

 able extent, the same words and phrases, and it may be added, 

 without the second edition being the reverse of an improve- 

 ment upon number one. 



The word 'troll,' meaning to rove about in a circular, 

 rollicking fashion, expresses the sort of movement which 

 should be given to the gorge-bait, and for the purpose of 

 producing this it is a common and very good plan to cut off a 

 pectoral fin on one side, and a ventral fin on the other. A 

 good many trollers also cut off the back and anal fins to 

 prevent their catching in the weeds, but I believe that this is a 



