140 ANGLING. 



he first feels the hooks in his interior, will make a 

 sudden and most violent rush up the river or along 

 the lake, and the line is either instantly broken, or 

 is carried, together with both the rod and reel, for 

 ever beyond the angler's reach. " When the pike 

 cometh," says Colonel Venables, " you may see 

 the water move, at least you may feel him ; then 

 slack your line and give him length enough to run 

 away to his hould, whither he will go directly, and 

 there pouch it, ever beginning (as you may observe) 

 with the head, swallowing that first. Thus let him 

 lye untill you see the line move in the water, and 

 then you may certainly conclude he hath pouched 

 your bait, and rangeth about for more ; then 

 with your trowl wind up your line till you think 

 you have it almost streight, then with a smart 

 jerk hook him, and make your pleasure to your con- 

 tent."* 



The fresher and cleaner the bait is kept, whether 

 for trolling, live-bait, or snap-fishing, the greater 

 Is the chance of success. 



As pike, notwithstanding their usual voracity, 

 are sometimes, as the anglers phrase it, more on 

 the play than the feed, they will occasionally seize 

 the bait across the body, and, instead of swallowing 

 it, blow it from them repeatedly and then take no 

 further notice of it. The skilful and wily angler 

 must instantly convert his gorge into a snap, and 

 strike him in the lips or jaws when he next at- 



* The Experienced Angler, p. 3G. Third edit. Lond. 1GG8. 



