THE PIKE. 139 



water, not to do it too hastily, because you will 

 find by experience that the jack and pike strike or 

 seize your bait more frequently when you are 

 drawing it upwards than when it is sinking. And 

 also further observe, that when drawing your bait 

 upwards, if you occasionally shake the rod, it will 

 cause the bait to spin and twist about, which is 

 very likely to attract either jack or pike."* 



These fish are partial to the bends of rivers and 

 the bays of lakes, where the water is shallow, and 

 abounding in weeds, reeds, water lilies, &c. In 

 fishing with the gorge-hook, when the angler feels 

 a run, he ought not to strike for several minutes 

 after the fish has become stationary, lest he pull 

 the bait away before it is fairly pouched. If a pike 

 makes a very short run, then remains stationary 

 for about a minute, and again makes one or two 

 short runs, he is probably merely retiring to some 

 quiet haunt before he swallows the bait ; but if, after 

 remaining still for three or four minutes, he begins 

 to shake the line and move about, the inference is 

 that he has pouched the bait, and feels some an- 

 noyance from the hook within, then such part of 

 the line as has been slackened may be wound up, 

 and the fish struck. It is an unsafe practice to lay 

 down the rod during the interval between a run 

 and the supposed pouching of the bait, because it 

 not unfrequently happens that a heavy fish, when 



* The Trotter's Guide, by T. F. Salter, Lond. 1820. In the work 

 above quoted will be found a full account of the necessary implements, 

 and the most approved practice, in this department of the art. 



