

140 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. PART I. 



my direction you must take this caution, that your Pike 

 must not be a small one, that is, it must be more than half 

 a yard, and should be bigger. 



First, open your Pike at the gills, and if need be, cut 

 also a little slit towards the belly. Out of these, take 

 his guts; and keep his liver, which you are to shred 

 very small, with thyme, sweet marjoram, and a little 

 winter-savoury ; to these put some pickled oysters, and 

 some anchovies, two or three, both these last whole, 

 for the anchovies will melt, and the oysters should not ; 

 to these you must add also a pound of sweet butter, 

 which you are to mix with the herbs that are shred, and 



In throwing the bait, observe the ruins given for trolling ; but remember, that 

 the more you keep it in motion the nearer it resembles a living fish. 



When you have a bite, strike immediately, the contrary way to that which the 

 head of the Pike lies, or to which he goes with the bait : if you cannot find 

 which way bis head lies, strike upright with two smart jerks, retiring backwards 

 as fast as you can, till you have brought him to a landing-place, and then do as 

 before is directed. 



There are various other methods, both of trolling and fishing at the snap, which, 

 if the reader is desirous to know, he may find described in the Complete Trailer, 

 by Ro. Noboes. I2mo. Irje. and the AngUr*i Sure Guidt, before-mentioned. 



As the Pike spawns in March, and before that month rivers are seldom in 

 order for fishing, it will hardly be worth while to begin trolling till April: after 

 that the weeds will be apt to be troublesome. But the prime month in the year 

 for trolling is October; when the Pike are fattened by their summer's feed, the 

 weeds are rotted, and by the filling of the waters the harbours of the fish are 

 easily found. 



Choose to troll in dear, and not muddy water, and in windy weather, if the 

 wind be not easterly. 



Some se in trolling and snapping two or more swivels to their line, by means 

 whereof the twisting of the Hue is prevented, the bait plays more freely, and, 

 though dead, is made to appear as if live; which in rivers is doubtless an ex- 

 cellent way : but those who can like to fish in ponds or still waters, will find 

 very little occasion for more than one. 



The Pike it alto to be caught with a minnow : for which method take the fol- 

 lowing directions : 



Get a single hook, slender, and long in the shank ; let it resemble the shape 

 of a shepherd's crook ; put lead upon it. as thick near the bent as will go into a 

 Minnow's mouth ; place the point of the hcok directly up the face of the fish. 

 Let the rod be as long as you can handsomely manage, with a line of the same 

 length. Cast op and down, and manage it as when you troll with any other 

 bait. If, when the Pike hath taken your bait, he run to the end of the line be- 

 fore he hath gorged it, do not strike, but hold still only, and he will return 

 back and swallow it. But if you USA that bait with a troll, I rather prefer it 

 before any bait that I know. Vtnablex. 



In landing a Pike, great caution is necessary ; for his bite is esteemed vcno- 

 mous. The best and safest hold you can take of him, is by the head ; in doing 

 which, place your thumb and finger in his eyes. 



