rjo COARSE FISH. 



Gimp is a little too much for a pike's upper jaw 



Gut or ^^^ ^^^""P ^^^^^' §^* ^^ liable to be 

 gimp' bitten or chafed through. Test the 

 traces gimp every day before using it, and 

 specially if you have had the tackle some little 

 time. 



Pike are such long fish that a gaff is preferable 

 to any but the very largest landing-nets, 

 and even these may lose a big fish through 

 the hooks catching in the meshes. A triangle is 

 frequently outside a pike's mouth when he is 

 hooked by the side of the jaw. If you slide your 

 pike head-first into the net when this is the case, 

 it is probable that the triangle will entangle itself 

 somewhere, so that, when the pike gives a heavy 

 shake, he either breaks the tackle or shakes his head 

 free. To gaff a fish, put the gaff underneath him 

 and strike up ; the weight of the fish is then on the 

 gaff, and the gaff takes a better hold. Just where 

 the head joins the body is a good place to gaff a 

 pike. Gafifing must be done quietly and without 

 hurry, though a great pike, struggling on the 

 surface, with his mouth wide open, as is sometimes 

 the case, makes you long to drive the steel quickly 

 into him. A short gaff can be carried on a strap, 

 slung over the right shoulder, hooking the crook 

 of the gaff over the strap, and protecting the point 

 with a cork. Telescopic gaffs are handy when 

 you have an attendant. I have a little gaff, the 

 shaft thirty-five inches long, that I have used for 

 years, carrying it hung over a strap ; the butt end 

 of the gaff being clear of the ground. When 

 spinning, a mile of water is soon fished over, 

 particularly if you have to pass many unfavourable 

 spots ; and as you never know when you may 



