232 NOBBS'S ART OF TROLLING. 



time, yet it will not hinder your sport, but they will 

 often take your bait; for a Pike is of that greedy and 

 rapacious nature, that although he hath lately made a 

 good meal of frogs, yet he will taste a Roach for his 

 second course. He takes so much pleasure and delight 

 in eating, that he never cares to stint himself; or phy- 

 sically, for his health's sake, to be content with mode* 

 rate diet ; for I have often taken him so soon after his 

 feeding, that he hath had part of his meat in his 

 mouth ; having newly swallowed so large a fish, that 

 his ventricle was neither capable to receive or digest it 

 quickly : sometimes I have taken him with two or three 

 baits in his maw ; sometimes with a great Roach or 

 Dace ; sometimes with one of his own species, very 

 seldom with a frog in his belly ; a frog is accounted a 

 good bait once a year, that is about hay-time, when it 

 looks bright and yellow, though then it is something 

 difficult to find ; in March they are very plentiful, but 

 are no,t of that golden colour, to make the fish ena- 

 moured with (heir beauty. This may be granted, that 

 a Pike will feed to that excess and fullness, that he 

 cannot gorge your bait, yet will rise and shew himself, 

 and make many offers, having a good will to do it, that 

 you may often catch him with the snap. 



CHAP. VI. 



The Food of a Pike, and when he is Fattest. 



IF you divide the year into four quarters, a Pike is 

 good 4hree of them ; the Spring only excepted. I 

 could never find any difference in the eating. It is a 

 usual saying, that a Pike and a Buck are in season to. 

 gether; that is in July and August: he is then very 

 firm, hard, and solid ; you will find little alteration in 

 September or October, which are the chiefest months 

 for the goodness of a fish ; for small Jack always eat 



