1 86 



PIKE AND OTHER COARSE FISH. 



leaded a la Nobbes, to find a simple and effectual method of 



fastening the bait's tail. 



The plan I hit upon fulfils both these conditions and gets 

 rid entirely of needle and thread and its conse- 

 quent irritating delays. 



I reduce the length of the wire shank to a 

 loop at the end of the lead (vide cut), to this 

 attach the link or trace of stained gimp by a 

 hook swivel. I attach the loop of the gimp to 

 the baiting needle and, having first cut the bait's 

 tail off smoothly and neatly close to the flesh, 

 pass the baiting needle through it in the usual 

 way, bringing the end of the trace out as nearly 

 in the centre of the tail as possible. Now pass 

 the baiting needle laterally through the bait's 

 tail, at about a quarter of an inch from the ex- 

 tremity, drawing the gimp through after it ; and, 

 finally, pass the end of the gimp through the 

 loop thus made at the extremity of the bait and 

 draw tight. A sort of half knot is thus formed 

 which never slips and which can be untied in a 

 moment when a fresh bait is required. To ex- 

 plain a mechanical process verbally is always 

 rather difficult and lengthy, but I can assure my 

 readers that the arrangement itself, when under- 

 stood, is the very simplest possible — such as 

 any tyro would manage without difficulty at the 

 first trial — and that simple as it is (and, for that 

 reason only, valuable) it will be found practically 

 to make the whole difference in the comfort and 

 efficiency of a trolling bait. 



The woodcut represents the gorge hook 

 lead and tackle as described, of about the size 

 suitable for a largish gudgeon or a small dace 



— for a larger or a smaller bait the hooks and lead must be 



proportionately smaller or larger. 



GOKGE-HOOKS 

 AND TRACE. 



