126 COARSE FISH. 



noster for searching a weir-pool, or under the apron 

 of a weir. In the early season, pike often lie up in 

 these places ; and I once got nine pike from under 

 the apron of a Kennet Weir. This was in Sep- 

 tember, and the pike happened to be " mad on." 



River pike are usually much handsomer than 

 those from ponds or lakes, while a pike from a 

 weir-pool is generally a better fish than one from a 

 slow stream. 



As regards the tackle for pike, I think we are all 

 inclined to use rods a trifle too heavy, and 

 tackle a trifle too coarse and clumsy. I have 

 an eleven foot greenheart rod, by Slater, that only 

 weighs one-and-a-half pounds, which I use for spin- 

 ning, having killed many pike on it, the largest over 

 eighteen-and-a-half pounds. This rod is too light for 

 livebaiting, and there is too much spring in it for 

 that sort of work. Livebaiting requires a stiff, short 

 rod that will stand the weight of livebait, lead and 

 float. I certainly prefer greenheart rods to those 

 of cane for pike-fishing ; ten to eleven feet is a 

 handy length, but a longer rod may be used for 

 paternostering. See that the winch fittings of a 

 pike-rod are strong, and that the rod rings are of a 

 good size and good metal. In selecting a rod, pick 

 out one that will not tire you ; you will kill more 

 fish with a rod you can easily manage than with 

 one too heavy. All pike-rods should have upright 

 rings of the round pattern, and should be supplied 

 with two tops, the shorter for live-baiting, the other 

 for spinning. A rubber button should be fitted on 

 the butt in preference to a wooden one, it is softer 

 to the groin when throwing or winding in. Cane 

 rods with solid tops are made for pike, but I do 

 not like them, as the weight is in the wrong place, 



