CONCERNING PIKE RODS 29 



it surely ought to be good enough to kill any jack I am 

 likely to get hold of." 



True, my friend, I should have to reply to this argument, 

 because I don't look upon a jack as being anything like 

 such a good fighter as a barbel, while he is a long way 

 behind a big and lusty trout. But there is something 

 beyond this ; if the rod had nothing else to do except kill 

 the pike when hooked, I should have no more to say in 

 the matter, because the actual killing of the fish, especially 

 in clear and unobstructed water, is one of the easiest tasks 

 the rod is called upon to perform. 



When the angler selects a rod for pike-fishing he must 

 bear in mind the following three important points : First, 

 some considerable strain is required in casting out a heavy 

 bait to a respectable distance ; secondly, when a good 

 jack is hooked, and he goes headlong for his favourite 

 flag bed or old root, it wants something fairly powerful to 

 turn him ; thirdly, when your hooks and bait get hung 

 up in some tough old weeds, or lily roots, and a strong line 

 and gimp tackle is employed, very considerable force 

 sometimes has to be used to loosen it or break away. 

 These points cannot be too strongly impressed on the 

 young angler ; as all three are of frequent occurrence, 

 especially in weedy rivers, lakes, and backwaters, so that 

 a very light and flimsy rod would soon get strained and 

 ruined beyond recovery. I don't recommend a clothes- 

 prop, or anything of like nature, but a rod fairly stiff and 

 powerful, with a nice spring in the top, sufficient to cast 

 out the bait in comfort and with accuracy. 



Pike rods are made from a variety of materials, and in a 

 variety of patterns ; some of them, I am bound to add, 

 more for ornament than use. Hickory, greenheart, lance- 

 wood, ash, and sometimes a combination of them all, is 

 used in one rod ; while two or three different kinds of cane, 

 and even split and built-up cane with steel centres, all 

 come more or less into requisition ; but as the latter are 

 very expensive, the general run of anglers leave them out 



