lr68 PIKE AND OTHER COARSE FISH. 



the trace about 5 feet long, of salmon gut ; a gimp flight of either 

 the " Pennell " or " Thames " pattern, to match the length of bait, 

 which in preference to a gudgeon should be a dace about 4^ inches 

 long, it being brighter and more attractive. A lead of the Fishing 

 Gazette pattern is best, as it can be attached any distance above 

 the flight, suited to the depth of water you are spinning, and there 

 should be two swivels between the lead and the flight, to assist 

 the rotation of the bait. 



' Much has been written about a " wobbly " bait being very kill- 

 ing, but experience has convinced me that one which spins straight 

 is more attractive and therefore catches most fish. It may be that 

 the tackle used for a " wobbler," consisting only of a triangle passed 

 through the vent and out of the mouth by a baiting needle, and a 

 sliding lip hook slipped on the gimp to secure the lips of the bait, 

 may answer the purpose very well when pike are mad on the feed, 

 or in the absence of better tackle ; but with such flights as I have 

 mentioned, and baits put on to spin properly, I should back them 

 when used by a proficient to do most execution. 



' That " spinning " has its charms and advantages must be con- 

 ceded, for, with no sloppy bait-can to carry, but a dozen selected 

 baits instead, packed in bran, tackle case and flask in pocket, fish 

 bag slung round shoulders, rod in hand, gaff in sling, warmly clad, 

 and well booted, nothing is more enjoyable than to wander beside 

 a " pikey " river, spinning all the likely places, catching fish here 

 and there ; — yet one does not get the largest fish spinning, a 

 15-pounder being an exception ; to catch the 20- and 30-pounders 

 you must fish the deeps and "lay-byes," with "paternoster" or 

 " snap ; " monster pike will not come up to a " spinning bait," from 

 the profundities they inhabit, but, like well-fed lazy aldermen, 

 prefer the dainty morsels to be nicely presented to them. 



'When "snap-fishing" with live bait, a 10-foot stiff-built cane rod, 

 with large rings, | in. diameter, all one size should be used and 80 to 

 ioo yards of waterproofed Nottingham 8-plait line on a good-sized 

 winch will not be too much if fishing large rivers or lakes where 

 pike attain considerable size and weight. The " snaps " most in 

 favour among pike-anglers are those known as " Jardine's snap 

 tackle," and consist of two triangles bound on 12 inches of mode- 

 rately stout gimp, the end one being two large No. 10 hooks and 

 one small No. i brazed together, the small hook is placed in the 

 base of the live bait's pectoral fin and keeps the triangle close to its 

 gills J the upper triangle is bound to the gimp about i\ inches 



