THE PIKE FAMILY. 141 



As the length of the cast is increased, draw a proportionate 

 length of line from the reel, holding part of it in a coil 

 in your left hand, and letting it go as you cast ; the 

 impetus acquired by the leaded bait will not only take the 

 coil held in your hand, but an additional quantity from the 

 reel, if it runs freely. The extra length of line is recovered 

 by winding up ; or gathering at each raising, and lowering 

 of the point of the rod, a foot or two at a time, with the left 

 hand, holding it in coils ready for the next cast. It is said 

 that English Pike-fishers are able to cast thirty yards or 

 more, when they cannot approach a desirable spot. 



It is well to draw the bait well home between each cast, as 

 a Pike will occasionally follow it for some distance, when he 

 is not hungry, as a cat does a mouse, and seize it only when 

 he finds that it is about to escape, as you draw it from the 

 water. When your bait is arrested, or you feel a tug, lower the 

 point of the rod, and give the fish as much line as he wants ; 

 he will take it to his haunt, or some place near at hand, and 

 swallow, or, as the English anglers say, " pouch it ;" for the 

 Pike seizes his prey crosswise in his long jaws, and taking it 

 to his haunt, turns it and swallows it head foremost. As this 

 requires some moments or perhaps minutes, the angler is 

 kept in hopeful suspense, and in the meanwhile his line 

 should remain perfectly slack : but as soon as the fish has 

 pouched the bait, the hook pricking the sides of his stomach, 

 causes him uneasiness and he starts off; then give him a yard 

 or so to run, and winding up the slack strike sharply, for in 

 nine cases out of ten he is >hooked beyond all peradventure 

 of escape. If he is a fish of moderate size, reel him in and lift 

 him ashore, or catching hold of the gimp trace, throw him out. 

 rf he is large and requires line, give it grudgingly, and keep 

 him away from all places that would endanger your tackle, 

 or enable him to get your line foul ; if you do so, there is 



