i88 PIKE AND OTHER COARSE FISH. 



As an experimentalist myself I have found that a further improve- 

 ment of the hook was possible,, and by making the lead in joints I 

 think I have succeeded in perfecting the gorge hook^a^ excellence. 

 I found that the rigid inflexible lead often deterred the pike from 

 swallowing, owing to its teeth meeting the unyielding centre lead ; 

 and so after many trials I found my device so superior as to warrant 

 me in introducing it to the public. 



The best trace for gorge-bait fishing is about four feet of 

 fine stained gimp with a hook swivel at the bottom so that the 

 hooks can be readily attached and detached upon a change of 

 size in the baits used. 



No other swivel is absolutely necessary, but if the bottom 

 of the trolling line is attached to a hook swivel, as recom- 

 mended for all trolling lines, some little additional play may 

 be thereby imparted to the bait. The rod, reel, and line re- 

 commended for spinning are also those most suitable to trolling 

 with the gorge-bait. 



WORKING THE GORGE-BAIT. 



I have dealt with this part of the subject so fully in the 

 'Book of the Pike' that I here quote it in extenso. Subsequent 

 impressions have not indicated any modification in the modics 

 operandi therein laid down. As a further excuse for this and 

 several other extracts from my own previous writings, it may 

 be remarked that the same mechanical facts can hardly be • 

 described by the same person without employing, to a consider- 

 able extent, the same words and phrases, and it may be added, 

 without the second edition being the reverse of an improve- 

 ment upon number one. 



The word 'troll,' meaning to rove about in a circular, 

 rollicking fashion, expresses the sort of movement which 

 should be given to the gorge-bait, and for the purpose of 

 producing this it is a common and very good plan to cut off a 

 pectoral fin on one side, and a ventral fin on the other. A 

 good many trollers also cut off the back and anal fins to 

 prevent their catching in the weeds, but I believe that this is a 



