LOCH-FISHING. 419 



TROLLING FOR PIKE. 



The common way of rod-fishing for pike in the Highlands 

 is with a running-bait a parr, or small trout, and plenty of 

 hooks, tied back to back on gimp, stuck all round it ; also a 

 couple of large swivels, and the line a little loaded with lead. 

 They always take best mornings and evenings, except on very 

 windy days ; so, if the angler is inclined to try a cast for pike, 

 after having filled his creel with trout, he may begin about six 

 o'clock. 



The Gorge- Troll. 



Trolling with the gorge is often very deadly in weedy lochs, 

 especially small openings that cannot be fished with the run- 

 ning-bait. I have seldom, however, seen it used in Scotland, 

 except in a very clumsy way a large double hook, armed 

 upon wire, with the bait inverted, and no attempt to make it 

 spin : unless pike are in a very hungry mood, this is not very 

 enticing. The proper gorge-hook is a small double one, com- 

 monly used for eels, with very sharp barbs, slightly turned 

 inwards ; the shank loaded with lead, in order to make the 

 bait sink quickly, and enable you to make far casts with pre- 

 cision. This hook is fastened by a small brass ring to about 

 a foot of gimp (you require a baiting-needle) : after cutting 

 off the tail and all the fins but one of the top side ones, hook 

 on the loop of the gimp to the needle, and insert it at the 

 mouth of the bait, bringing it out at the middle of the fork 

 of the tail ; the lead and shank of the hook will thus be hid 



in the mouth and belly of the bait, and only the barbs and 

 points be visible. Tie the tail to the gimp with thread. 

 (Vide cut.) After casting, let the bait sink to the bottom, 



