THE PIKE. 141 



the fish run a yard or two, and strike smartly, 

 for the bullet has to be lifted. Just after a heavy 

 flood is a good time for legering, as the fish are 

 deep down in the holes, and are only too glad to 

 see a lively dace or gudgeon, though a very thick 

 flood in some rivers sickens pike for some time, 

 and they perhaps refuse to feed till the water 

 clears thoroughly. Legering can only be practised 

 in places where the bottom is free from obstruc- 

 tions ; it is therefore impossible in some weirs, 

 where great blocks of stone, old timbers, &c., are 

 found ; and, as a rule, the finding of them means 

 the loss of much tackle. 



Paternoster-tackle is perhaps the best for search- 

 ing for pike in very weedy holes, or amongst „ 

 piles and camp-sheathing. A long rod noster- 

 should be used, as it is sometimes requisite '°^ 

 to drop the bait straight down under the rod-top, 

 particularly alongside weir aprons and in such- 

 like situations. The paternoster is a tackle with 

 the lead at its lower end. This lead should be 

 looped on the gut-length with fine thread, as it 

 frequently catches in sundry obstructions or be- 

 tween, stones. Unless this precaution is taken, 

 the whole tackle may be lost ; whereas, if the 

 lead be just looped on with fine thread, the thread 

 will break and liberate the rest of the tackle. 

 Even conical leads, as paternoster leads usually 

 are, will get tangled up, and the bit of thread will 

 save time, trouble and expense. Paternoster-hooks 

 stand out at right angles to the line, or are, at any 

 rate, supposed to do so. In lowering the bait, 

 however, it will frequently get foul of the main line 

 before touching the water ; it is advisable on this 

 account to get the bait in the water as soon as 



