358 PIKE AND OTHER COARSE FISH. 



plentiful as they were. The owners and hirers of private 

 broads are too much addicted to the use of the trimmer, and 

 several scores of th^se poaching abominations floating over a 

 shallow broad are capable of much mischief, one or more being 

 certain to be seen by every feeding fish. When the weeds are 

 down the shallowness of the water affords no especial hiding 

 or lurking place, and a fish runs through many temptations ere 

 arriving at the weight of ten pounds. 



In the rivers pike are numerous enough, and are almost 

 always fished for by ' trailing ' the spinning bait. This is else- 

 where looked upon as unsportsmanlike, but there is excuse for 

 it in Norfolk rivers if anywhere. Fishing from the banks is, 

 generally speaking, out of the question, owing to their marshy 

 and weedy character. A boat is indispensable, and as you 

 cannot tell where the fish are within a mile or two, it seems 

 most sensible to row in search of them, and this is the mode 

 usually practised. The boat is rowed at a very slow pace the 

 slower the better, so long as the bait spins effectively along 

 the edge of the deep water or the weeds, according to the 

 season. Thus, in the winter the fish come in the shallow water 

 along the reeds at midday, and retire to the deeper water as the 

 afternoon advances to a degree depending upon the temperature 

 of the day. The clearer the water is the better, at all events in 

 the reaches affected by the tide. If it is at all ' grey ' or thick 

 the pike will not feed. ' Clear ' is of course a comparative 

 term, as, except on the upper waters of the Waveney, it never 

 reaches the crystal clearness of less muddy streams. Local 

 assistance is most desirable even in trailing, as the depth of the 

 water varies so much without any surface indication ; and the 

 length of line, depth of the bait, and speed, as well as the dis- 

 tance from the shore, should vary accordingly. The bait used 

 is usually an artificial one, and of artificial baits the time- 

 honoured spoon is the favourite. 



When the pike are on the feed a single rod may get from 

 six to a score fish running from three to ten pounds by trailing, 

 while with any other method of fishing he would not get one. 



