PIKE FISHING— SPINNING. 69 



'those that have come under my notice has been in the least 

 calculated to make a bait spin with the regularity and rapidity 

 requisite.' 



In order to ascertain, therefore, the best. possible combina- 

 tion of hooks, &c., for this purpose, I have been for many years 

 experimenting upon every part of the spinning-flight and trace ; 

 including the number, shape, size, . and arrangement of the 

 hooks, leads and swivels, with the various materials out of 

 which a trace can be composed. The object having been to 

 arrive as nearly as possible at a perfect spinning-trace. The 

 results of these further experiments, whilst suggesting various 

 modifications in the detail of spinning-tackle, have fully borne 

 out the correctness of the principles originally advanced. 



Confining myself, then, for the present to the question of the 

 flight — that is, the hook portion of the spinning-trace — and, 

 having regard to the arguments already urged, the principle 

 which I am convinced should rule paramount in the construc- 

 tion of all such flights is the substituting of flying triangles 

 (i.e., triangles kept loose from the bait by short links of their 

 own), for triangles, or any other hooks, whipped on to the 

 central link — and even of flying triangles using as few as possible. 



Three flights— the ultimate outcome of my experiments — ■ 

 suited to different sized baits, and showing the position of the 

 hooks and flying triangles which experience has led me to 

 adopt as improvements upon my older patterns, are figured in 

 the following pages. 



No. I flight is for small-sized gudgeon, dace, or bleak, 4J in. 

 to 5 in. long. Suited to very fine pike-spinning, or spinning 

 for Thames trout. 



No. 2, a flight for a largish gudgeon or a small dace, 5^ in. 

 to 6 in. long. 



No. 3, for a medium sized dace, 6f in. to l\ in. long. 



The diagrams in miniature below each flight of hooks show 

 their position when baited. On comparing these flights with 

 those figured in my previous books it will be seen that, whilst 

 adhering in every way to the principles originally advocated, 



