PIKE-FISHING 177 



are less likely to be taken in this manner than with the 

 live bait, or, at least, the dead bait on snap-tackle ; big 

 fish being not so nimble as smaller ones, and less inclined 

 for the exertion of pursuing a rapidly passing lure. 



Spinning is always done with a dead bait, fixed upon 

 flights of triangle hooks so as to revolve rapidly in the 

 water. It is difficult to explain why it is found profitable 

 to give the fish used as bait a movement such as it could 

 not possibly perform if alive, but undoubtedly it has an 

 attraction for fish of prey. There is no better or simpler 

 tackle than the Archer spinner, whereof there are many 

 modifications under different names ; and jars of beautiful 

 baits — dace, gudgeon, sprats, and minnows preserved in 

 formaline— may be had from any good fishing-tackle maker. 

 Artificial baits of every conceivable design have been designed 

 also — spoons, phantoms, fish of horn, of metal, of glass, 

 of leather, of quill — all of which prove successful at times ; 

 but most anglers of experience prefer the natural bait. 



Pike are often caught on the artificial fly when salmon- 

 fishing, but generally of small size. The chances of landing 

 a twenty-pounder on single gut are against the angler ; for 

 even if such a large fish be securely hooked, his serried rows 

 of teeth, especially those on the vomer, are pretty sure to 

 wear through the gut before he can be landed. Flies specially 

 tied for pike are huge agglomerations of feathers, fur, and 

 tinsel, but there can be no doubt that success is more 

 probable with the spinning bait than with surface lures. 



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