AN ANGLER'S HOURS vn 



sensation which makes spinning for pike so 

 fascinating, the sensation of being in contact 

 with some mysterious power in the depths. 

 It is not in the least like the sudden plunge 

 of a large trout ; the feeling for the first 

 second or two is as though the river-bed 

 had suddenly become animate and had 

 grasped the bait in firm hands. A kind of 

 electric thrill is communicated from the 

 fish to the fisherman, and informs him at 

 once that he is not fast in stump or weed ; 

 occasionally, it is true, he may for an instant 

 think that a weed is a fish, but the real 

 thing is never to be mistaken. 



After the first few seconds of resistance 

 the pike begins to realise his predicament, 

 and he fights in sullen wrath. For quite 

 a long time I cannot recover any line, and 

 even have to concede some yards as he bores 

 steadily out into the strong current. The 

 firm strain tells, however, at last, and I get 

 him after several rushes nearly up to the 

 boat, till his olive back is visible about three 

 feet below the surface. The sight of the 

 punt, however, rouses him to new efforts ; 

 down he goes again with tremendous power, 

 and is under us before I can realise it. In 



