PIKE FISHING. 75 



torn " is another bait not well adapted for rough work, 

 owing to its liability to sustain damage from the keen 

 teeth of the pike. 



The best "artificials" to rely upon, when "naturals" 

 run short, we give as follows, viz., the "Gregory," "Clip- 

 per," "Wheeldon," "Windsor Bee," and "Excelsior." 

 Most anglers have a marked partiality for heavy brass 

 gimp, of thrice the necessary thickness. Gimp should be 

 no thicker or stronger than is absolutely requisite, and 

 should be of the best quality, having the finest raw silk 

 centre. In common gimp, which is disposed of by the 

 manufacturers by weight, the wire is much too thick, the 

 proportion of silk being less accordingly. It is, how- 

 ever, made very fine and strong indeed, of very little more 

 substance than stout lake gut. The best gimp is usually 

 made bright, and excessively fine in wire. Before this is 

 used it should be slightly stained with logwood and cop- 

 peras, with just enough of the latter to darken the dye. 

 This removes the glare, and effects a great improvement. 

 Having advised as to the equipment of the pike spinners, 

 we shall now proceed to lay down a few directions as to 

 the most artistic and successful method of using them 

 that commonly followed upon the Thames. The line 

 should not be worked from the reel nor yet from the 

 feet,* as commonly practised, but from the left hand, 

 around the fourth finger and thumb, off which # is 

 wound rapidly crosswise. The motion thus conveyed to 

 the bait works it well if rightly accomplished; some 

 anglers simply haul in the line by instalments into the 

 palm of the hand, but this is anything but sportsman- 

 like. The bait is delivered to the spot desired in the 

 following manner: Line to about half the length of the 

 rod is let out with the bait ready fixed at its extremity, 

 the length of line required for the proposed cast being 



* From coils on the ground. 



