ARTIFICIAL BAITS 73 



other hand, I have had far better luck when not even a 

 ripple disturbed the surface of the water. 



Once in particular I remember spinning all one afternoon 

 when the water was clouded and a nice breeze blowing, but 

 not a run did I get ; towards evening the wind died away, 

 and the surface of the water was like a mirror, and then 

 the rain came down in earnest ; altogether not an evening 

 in which to expect sport with an artificial. However, I 

 had a few casts over a place that several times before 

 during the afternoon I had thrown over without success, 

 but this time I got five fish within the next half-hour, 

 averaging five pounds each. 



I must admit that many bags have been had during a 

 dead calm. It does not matter much when the water is 

 clouded whether there is a good breeze or not ; if the 

 water is clear, then a little wind that ripples up the water 

 acts as a blind to cover the spinner and his movements. 



There is no rule that can be invariably applied in this 

 matter. I have taken jack in all sorts of weathers when 

 a gale nearly blew me into the river, and when the softest 

 zephyrs scarcely ruffled the surface of the water. Taking 

 all things into consideration, clear water or clouded, a little 

 breeze is desirable ; with regard to the best quarter for 

 the wind to be in, it matters very little. An east wind 

 with a touch of frost that would drive the roach clean off 

 the feed, might make the jack come on right manfully. 

 Wind and weather when spinning an artificial are matters 

 of little importance ; condition of the water is more to be 

 observed. One of the most favourable conditions in 

 which to find the water is after a few frosts have rotted 

 the weeds, then a heavy rain which causes a rapid rise 

 and sweeps away the decayed weeds, and washes the jack 

 out of their fastnesses into the more open waters. As soon 

 as this flood water clears away a little, so that the bait can 

 be seen, most assuredly that is the time to get sport. 



I have had pike-spinning when the weather has been 

 mild and summerlike ; when a north-easter has been roar- 



