gS ANGLING 



weather, when the sky is clouded, the air cool, and, 

 above all, when there is a fine rolling breeze bending 

 the trees and rippling up the surface of the water into 

 mimic waves, it is a most exciting and fasciaating 

 amusement. On such occasions the fish generally run 

 pretty freely, and afford the angler plenty of opportunity 

 for his patience and skill. 



The rod of the pike-fisher differs in several essential 

 particulars from the ordinary fishing-rod. It is shorter, 

 stouter made, and is fitted with large and firm rings, which 

 permit the line to run freely through them without a 

 chance of being checked in its career. Some trollers 

 simply use a single staff of hickory, fitted only with two 

 rings, but a complete troUing-rod should have a winch 

 and three or four elliptical rings of brass firmly brazed 

 into brass collars. The rod itself should be made of 

 hickory, and the top of greenhart. Three tops of 

 different lengths should be provided, to suit the different 

 widths of rivers and the variety of modes of trolling. 

 Each end should be fitted with a top ring, so formed as 

 to present the least obstacles to the passage of the line. 

 An ordinary rod can be adapted for trolling purposes, 

 by having the rings firmly brazed on loose brass collars 

 which will fit on the ferrules or joints of the rod. A 

 special top is then alone necessary. 



The trolling-line should be of eight-plait oiled silk, 

 and should be at least fifty yards long. In many cases 

 this will be found little enough. The reel or winch 

 should be large enough to hold eighty yards of line 

 easily. The winch handle should be fixed on the side 

 plate, in order that nothing should interfere with the 

 running of the line should a loop accidentally catch the 

 winch handle. 



The gorge-hooks used for trolling vary somewhat in 

 size, shape, and fittings. The ordinary pattern consists 

 of a double hook brazed or securely fastened to some 

 stout twisted brass wire, about five or six inches in 

 length, and around the shank of which a cone of lead 

 has been cast. The length of wire and size of lead 

 varies with the size of the bait. Another pattern 



