THE TROLLING ROD. 183 



much in the bending, that a pike may not only 

 discover the delusion, but if he takes it, it may 

 check him in his feeding, and so hinder him from 

 gorging it." Mr. Blaine says, " Some anglers sew 

 up the mouth of the bait after they have intro- 

 duced the gorge, which we consider as not very 

 material: the lips certainly conceal the bends 

 of the hook rather better when sewn up than 

 when left open, which is all the advantage 

 gained." The gorge-hooks should be of different 

 sizes, according to the baits you use, and the 

 size of the baits should be regulated according to 

 the size of the fish probably frequenting the 

 waters you angle in. 



A rod twelve feet long is considered sufficiently 

 lengthy for trolling with the gorge-hook. It should 

 be strong, yet light, and made of mottled cane. 

 The one mentioned hereafter in my list of rods, is 

 the most appropriate for trolling with the gorge- 

 bait and for spinning. The rings should not be 

 made of wire, but of strong brass or steel. They 

 should be wide, far apart on the rod, and their base 

 should be polished so as to let the line run most 

 freely through them. Trolling rods are made to 

 perfection by all the chief tackle manufacturers in 

 London. The trolling line should be of stout 

 prepared platted silk. Those of hair, or silk and 

 hair, or of mere hemp, are bad, liable to kink, 

 and therefore run heavily out in casting. Hemp 



N 4 



