236 NOBBS'S ART OF TROLLING. 



CHAP. VIL 



Baits for Trolling. 



HAVING already discoursed of the nature of a Pike, 

 and discovered his harbour and feed, and the time and 

 seasons most proper to take him ; the next will be to 

 provide Instruments and Tackle, and Baits fit and 

 suitable to every season. Some there are that vary 

 their baits according to the time of the year, using 

 small fish in Winter, and frogs, &c. in summer. I can. 

 not disapprove of that way, though I seldom made use 

 of others than a small fish, a Roach or a Dace, some- 

 times a Gudgeon, which if large is an excellent bait ; 

 it being a sweet fish: a Pike very rarely leaves it; if 

 it is a dark colour, and therefore is most proper to be 

 used in a bright day, or when the waters are very 

 clear. 



If the river is muddy, or the weather cloudy, then 

 a Roach, Dace, or a Bleak newly taken, are the best 

 baits that ran be used ; the fresher they are the better, 

 for fish are the soonest-stale of any thing, and a Pike 

 may chance to catch at a stale bait, and play with it 

 briskly at first, but it is great odds that he leaves it at 

 last, if he is not extraordinarily pinched with hunger. 

 A stale bait (we acknowledge) may make a good shift 

 sometimes, but it must be neither in Summer, nor in 

 spawning time ; in April or October they are not so 

 curious, but they can dispense with indifferent diet ; 

 and in cold weather a bait may keep two or three days, 

 and yet be very serviceable, especially at Snap, which 

 makes no difference in baits, as to the sense of tasting ; 

 if they look bright and glisten in the water, it is not 

 material whether they are old or new ; which affords a 

 ^greater variety of baits than that of Pouch. 



Any thing that ma y affect the eye, may be used at 



