158 SCIENCE OF FISHING. 



for the pike is very voracious and preys on all smaller 

 fish. 



The fish are found mostly in shallow, grassy lakes and 

 ponds. The places to look for them are over shoals and 

 bars near the lily pads or wild rice beds. When caught on 

 light tackle they put up a game fight, and are almost the 

 equal of the muskellunge of the same weight. 



Pike may be caught with natural or artificial bait, or 

 by trolling. Perhaps more of them are taken by trolling with 

 a spoon bait than in any other way. The directions given for 

 catching muskellunge will answer very well for pike, as 

 these two fish inhabit the same waters, their habits are 

 much the same, and the same methods of fishing may be 

 employed for both, in fact you are as likely to catch one as 

 the other. The tackle for pike may be lighter throughout 

 than for muskellunge. For bait fishing a regular bait rod, 

 good sized multiplying reel, and good weight raw silk line 

 should be used. The Archer Spinner with large minnow 

 bait is an excellent lure. A plain hook, an O'Shaughnessy 

 or Pennel, No. 3/ on a pointed piano wire is good for natural 

 bait. If a trolling spoon is used, one having a blade about 

 2 1/4 inches long is about the right size. In all cases there 

 must be a short section of wire above the hook to keep the 

 fish from biting the line. 



The pike is not worth very much as a food fish, but is 

 superior to such fish as carp and suckers. They are better 

 in spring, fall and winter than in summer when the water 

 is warm. In places where other fish are plentiful they are 

 seldom used for food. The fish may be taken in early spring 

 by fishing through the ice with pickerel traps, as described 

 elsewhere. 



Of the pickerel there are three species, namely, the 

 Eastern pickerel, Western pickerel, and banded picker"!. 

 These are the "pike" of some parts of the country. The 

 Eastern pickerel is also called chain-pickerel and jack It 



