136 



THE PIKE, fcC. 



m 



both pike and jack often follow the bait, and seize it at me 

 moment it rises towards the surface, fearful it is going to 

 throw itself out of the water to avoid the pursuit. 



" When, you have a nm, or in other words, when a pike 

 or jack has seized your bait, lower the point of the rod to- 

 wards the water, and at the same time draw the line gradu- 

 ally from the reel with the left hand, so that nothing may 

 impede or check the progress of the fish in carrying the bait 

 to its hold in order to pouch it; do not strike until he has had 

 possession of the bait about seven minutes, or till the line 

 shakes or moves in the water, then wind up the slack line, 

 and turn the rod, so that the reel may be uppermost instead 

 of underneath, then strike, but not with violence." 



Taylor offers an excellent practical remark on striking, 

 when he says: " The pike will as soon as he has seized a 

 bait, run to his hold to pouch or swallow it ; allow him there- 

 fore five minutes to do so, (unless the line slackens before that 

 time, which is a signal that he has already done it,) and then 

 strike. But if after he has run off with the bait, he makes 

 scarcely any stay with it at his hold, but goes off with it again, 

 you should not strike till after he has rested a second time 

 allowing him still about five minutes; but if he should run 

 off a third time before the five minutes are expired, draw a 

 tight line, and strike him instantly." 



Captain Williamson observes, that " when you see a great 

 number of very small bubbles rising from the spot where you 

 know, by the direction of your line, the jack is lying, you 

 should forbear from striking, it being a certain Bign that he 

 has not pouched your bait."* 



" The pike being struck," the first directions continue, 



* There is much difference of opinion about the time to be given for 

 pouching the bait, some giving in-some cases fifteen or twenty minutes, 

 and one writer recommends thirty minutes ! The most experienced, in 

 particular instances, give ten, and even fifteen minutes; but thirty, or 



