48 WORKING THE LIVE-BAIT. 



near the shore first, always standing as far 

 from the water as possible without losing sight 

 of the float ; if after a short time you do not 

 have a run, advance a little nearer, and make 

 another cast further in the water, and to the 

 right or left. Try all the bays, bends, and 

 still parts of the river in succession, and 

 ponds, pools, etc. ; also near, or in the open 

 places, among beds of candock weeds, sedges, 

 rushes, and in retired corners. Eddies at the 

 sides of weirs are good places for large fish ; 

 and here, besides Pike, you have the chance of 

 catching large Perch, which will readily take 

 the live-bait. I have often taken them in such 

 places of two pounds weight when live-baiting 

 for Pike, and sometimes as high as three pounds 

 and a half. 



If the bait be lively, it will swim strongly 

 about ; if there should be a bed of weeds near, 

 will generally make for it ; and if left to itself, 

 will there get entangled, which must be pre- 

 vented by drawing it gently away ; but not 

 out of the water. When the live-bait becomes 

 weak, which you will soon discover by the float 

 not working much, draw it gently to and fro, 

 (if it be hooked through the lips only,) which 

 will often induce a Jack to seize it, fearing it 

 is making its escape ; though while the bait 

 remains quiet, the Jack is seldom in a hurry 

 about it, which proves the advantage of strong 

 and lively baits over those that are weak and 

 languid. 



