12 



FLIGHT OF HOOKS. 



The most successful natural 

 spinning-bait for Pike I ever used 

 was a small chub, about five 

 inches in length. I have also 

 taken them with small barbel of 

 the same size ; in fact, the first 

 time I spun with a barbel in the 

 Thames, I caught a small Pike, 

 weighing five pounds, at the first 

 throw. This, however, does not 

 prove that barbel and chub are 

 the best baits for Pike, as there 

 is hardly any fish that he will not 

 take; therefore I should use a 

 large bright gudgeon, or middle- 

 sized dace, baited as in the sketch 

 on the next page. 



The hook in the triangle at the 

 end of the flight, which lies oppo- 

 site to the reverse hook, is in- 

 serted in the centre of the root of 

 the tail ; the reverse hook is then 

 inserted in the side of the bait, 

 nearly opposite to the vent ; one 

 hook of each of the remaining 

 triangles is inserted in the side of 

 the fish, in a line with the mouth, 

 to keep the body straight, and on 

 passing the lip-hook through both 

 lips, the bait is ready for use. 

 By keeping the body perfectly 

 straight as far as the vent, and 



