64 DAYS AMONG THE PIKE AND PERCH 



sprats, or smelts, while dace or roach come a good second 

 if the more brilliant ones are not forthcoming. 



In spinning for pike on a large lake or broad where the 

 water is deep, and the fish sluggish, it is no good fishing 

 too near the surface, let it sink deep down and sink and 

 draw it very slowly, and chance hooking into a weed-bed. 

 In spinning over a canal or small stream where a five- 

 pounder is a big one, the tackle can scarcely be too fine, 

 or the trebles too small, or too neatly mounted. Some- 

 times a jack will come at a bait and then suddenly turn 

 tail and refuse ; the best plan is to keep pegging away with 

 the same bait for ten minutes, and then change to some- 

 thing exactly opposite in shape and colour, and the chances 

 are that he will take it the very next throw. 



In spinning over places where the water is shallow and 

 weedy, and very little stream is running, it will be well to 

 spin as near the surface as possible. Do not under any 

 circumstances spin the bait home like lightning ; in deeper 

 water that is free from weeds, etc., let it sink deep down, 

 and in winding it back again keep moving the rod point 

 from right to left, and then upwards and downwards, and 

 keep slowly winding home. All these movements and 

 varying of the pace have a tendency to cause the bait to 

 come through the water in a series of curious dives, wobbles, 

 and twists, which in my opinion is the source of attraction. 

 Just before the bait reaches the bank on which you stand, 

 it will be as well to lower the rod point and fish the place 

 clean out, right up to the very bank ; for sometimes a 

 good jack follows the bait the whole length of the cast, and 

 then takes it close under your feet. When you see this, 

 stop spinning for a second and let the bait slowly sink, and 

 the chances are that he will dive down and take it with 

 right good will. I have seen this more than once, but you 

 must keep cool, and be ready at a moment's notice. 



When you first begin to fish a likely-looking stretch of 

 water, it is not the correct thing to throw your bait right 

 out to the furthest extent of your cast, but just toss it into 



