THE PIKE. 127 



unless very carefully balanced. I prefer the weight 



well back in the butt. 



A good winch is important, if you are to fish in 



any comfort. A four-inch Nottingham 



. - , ,. , , , , , ,. Winch 



centre-pin with adjustable check (to slip on 



and off) is a good size, and the throwing should 

 all be done from the winch. In January, 1897, I 

 tried Messrs. Hardy's new winch, the " Silex," for 

 pike-fishing. This is a good strong metal winch, 

 and using a spinning bait and fairly light lead I 

 found I could throw well with it on a first trial. 

 I consider this winch will be valuable to beginners 

 in the Nottingham style of throwing ; it has a 

 finger catch to prevent over-running, the check is 

 silent, and the pressure is adjustable. During an 

 afternoon's practice with it, I had only one over-run, 

 through trying to throw too far ; and I was rather 

 hampered by using a dressed line, being accus- 

 tomed to a plain line (greased) when spinning. 

 Another detriment to comfort was that, during 

 most of the time, I was nearly up to my knees in 

 snow, making the foothold bad, which is against 

 good throwing. 



I always use a plaited silk line, soft dressed with 

 vaseline and enamel (see p. 73). For throw- . 

 ing from the coil, a dressed line is better ; 

 though by the time the angler has learned to 

 throw from a coiled line, he can learn to throw 

 from the winch, avoiding all tangling in sticks and 

 other obstacles ; and in pike-fishing, it is often 

 most convenient to be able to stand in the midst 

 of rushes or in high grass, and throwing from the 

 ground cannot be done in these places. 



The long oval floats, green with a red or white 

 top, 'are best. Now, as a really good " tip " in live- 



