THE TROLLING MNE. 



it will be apt to knot and entangle, which will try the 

 fisherman's patience. Some object drawing the line 

 upon the ground, it will wear it out sooner: it sooner 

 dries, and when it is dry it can take but little harm ; 

 besides a Pike will sometimes be so hasty and furious, 

 that he will scarcely give you leave to unwind fast 

 enough, and therefore the surest way to trepan him is 

 to have your line at command, and in complete readi- 

 ness. 



CIIAP.X. 



The Rod. 



SUPPOSING your hook is good, and your line strong, 

 you may make shift with an indifferent rod ; though 

 some are more curious in their tackle and patient in 

 fishing, and will not stir a foot without all the formal!- 

 ties of an exquisite fisherman : such precise crafts. mas- 

 ters as these can spend their time in admiring their in- 

 struments, and sufficiently delight themselves with the 

 commendation of their own materials. This is certain 

 and undeniable, that the longer the rod is, if it is 

 straight and light, you will find the more benefit in 

 playing the bait and throwing it, for if there are flags 

 and reeds between the bank and the main deep, you 

 can hardly play your bait with a short rod. I have 

 often put a ring upon my hand stick, and made use of 

 that instead of a rod, and have had the fortune some- 

 times to take a Pike : sometimes I have taken nothing 

 with me, but confided in the willows that grew next to 

 the place designed for that day's recreation, cutting 

 down as good a stick as I could find, and so making a 

 bent at the end for the line to slip : and have left it at 

 the conclusion of the sport. 



In a broad river, or a pond, being at a pinch, I have 

 had no rod, but took the bait in my hand ? and cast it 

 Y 3 



