The Percb Family 161 



mands a ready sale, being in great demand during 

 the Lenten season. 



The pike-perch is a good game-fish, taking live 

 bait eagerly, and rising pretty well to the fly. 

 When hooked it is a vigorous fighter, pulling 

 strongly and lustily. It does not exhibit much 

 dash or take line rapidly, but swims away rather 

 slowly, but at the same time is constantly tugging 

 and jerking on the line in such a manner as to 

 require careful handling with light tackle. Or- 

 dinary black-bass rods and tackle are well suited 

 for the pike-perch up to six or eight pounds, either 

 for bait-fishing or fly-fishing. Where they are 

 found in considerable numbers, and especially on 

 lakes where pickerel or pike abound, gimp snells 

 should be used instead of gut snells to withstand 

 their sharp teeth; otherwise the tackle may be 

 the same as recommended for black-bass fishing. 

 The best bait is a live minnow, though crawfish 

 are successfully used. On lakes it should be fished 

 for in comparatively deep water, over pebbly or 

 rocky bottom. On streams the likely places are 

 in deep and swift water, at the foot of rapids, or 

 on a rocky lee shore with a brisk wind, where it 

 congregates in search of minnows that are ren- 

 dered almost helpless by the churning water. 



