72 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 



them properly, so as to enable them to describe the or- 

 dinary revolutions. In this tackle, no difficulty of this 

 nature is encountered. The lip-hook is inserted through 

 the upper and lower lips of the bait, so as to close the 

 mouth, the most slender hook of the triangle pierces the 

 side, leaving the larger span of hooks unencumbered; 

 lastly, the tail of the bait is made to form a slight curve 

 by inserting the end hook, so as to cause the bait to swim 

 in a wobbling sort of way. At certain times this motion 

 proves very effective in alluring the quarry. The state- 

 ments bearing upon this point, given in another chapter 

 (trout spinning), apply with equal significance to pike 

 spinning. Pike nights may, however, be used perfectly 

 straight, as by the use of a small F. G.* spinner and 

 swivel combined, which can be placed a yard or so above 

 the bait, perfect action is secured, the lure revolving well, 

 and in a direct line, a great desideratum in bait spinning, 

 especially in the case of the rapacious pike, as he is even 

 more apt than other species to miss the whirling turn- 

 tailed bait. 



A diagram of this very useful metal appendage to the 

 midwater fisher, is given on plate III. , fig. 4. 



The rod for pike is now made little more than one-half 

 the former dimensions; the cumbersome tool of from fif- 

 teen to twenty feet is being discarded in favor of a more 

 efficient implement of about nine or ten feet. The old 

 swing movement for getting out the bait is quite sur- 

 passed by what may be termed the spring motion; the 

 fisherman's right angle is reduced by this change, his 

 general style and comfort vastly improved, and success 

 rendered more sure. To the uninitiated, the idea of 

 reducing the rod would imply a corresponding lessening 

 of the power of the rodster; but this is exactly the reverse 



* For the " Fishing Gazette " spinner (see plate III.), an examination 

 of which will explain its construction more lucidly than a diffuse de- 

 scription. 



