15 
January, 1923 
A crowd of ice-fishermen on a northern lake. Some have erected little huts containing stoves 
out for these large fish use hooks of head will finish him off. If you have has been permitted to run through it un¬ 
inferior material, some in fact that ever tried to pull a large pike through protected. One does a stunt like that 
straighten out when the fish gets to tug- a hole in the ice you have indeed tackled once and then never tries it again, 
ging at the line. It is a matter of de- a tough proposition. It is far better to 
bate with most anglers where the hook make use of the gun. There are some 'T'HE fascination in winter fishing for 
should be seated on the perch to best who have tried bringing them out by the the pike and muscallonge is that you 
engage the mouth of the fish. If a large aid of both the hook gaff and the can never tell when you are going to get 
single hook is used, and the perch is a clincher or automatic gaff but have the largest finny one in the water you 
large one, the hook should be worked failed. And some have even used a are fishing. I believe it is agreed that 
in right back of the dorsal fin but not so spear on them when brought in but there the largest members of the pike family 
deep & that the backbone is touched. is no implement equal to the rifle with are caught during the winter season of 
When the fish seizes the lure the first its deadly small bullet. Of course, a the year. In any event some of the 
impulse of the man with the line is to small .22 pistol answers the purpose finest of the family are then brought to 
set the hook, believing the fish has a firm just as well. the surface. The place to fish for them 
hold on it. If this is done the lure and Not only should the hook and line be must be carefully studied out and the 
hook are often seized from the fish. It durable, there must be a wire leader on time also ascertained. For instance, one 
should be remembered always that when the end of the line to prevent the sharp may have the best luck in catching them 
one of the members of the pike family fangs of the fish from getting in con- in the early morning; again it will be 
hits the lure (and it is easy to tell when tact with the silk or linen that composes late afternoon, it all depends, 
a pike takes it by the suddenness of. it the line. The leader may be fourteen The pike inevitably use channels or 
all) he should be permitted to run with to sixteen inches in length and may be passages between lakes as runways and 
it. Do not fear, he will not let it go. made by twisting copper wires together naturally that is one of the best places 
After a run he will turn it in his mouth to form a whole. And another point to find them. One should seek the cen¬ 
to gorge it. A few minutes after that that should be remembered: when cut- ter of the channel about thirty feet or 
is the best time to strike and a catch ting the hole do not cut it more or less so from its mouth and, of course, it is 
is inevitable. V-shaped as most do, and as often leave as well to fish in one lake in this respect 
In pike fishing on the ice there are the opening small at the bottom and as in the other since the fish is attracted 
some points to ^observe, which, unless wide at the top. Make the hole more while making the passage between, 
they are followed up, will result in much like a V upside down, the two sides Sometimes one may fish right in a chan- 
trouble. First of all the line. It should sloping away. Trim off all the sharp nel. If this is done (the water being 
be well-tested Cuttyhunk, and, if you are edges around it. The line working deep enough) keep out a trifle from the 
on grounds where large specimens are across these is often severed. mouth of it as previously directed, 
caught annually see that your line tests If day fishing for the pike, when con- Channel fishing is probably best for the 
to thirty or thirty-five pounds at least, stant watch is being kept over the line, pikes, but they are also to be found 
In ice fishing there is not the oppor- it should be remembered that the line around the mouths of inlets and outlets, 
tunity for playing the fish that is pos- must be ready for the something that Generally one fishes in from fifteen to 
sible when one has a rod, but then again happens just about as speedily as one twenty feet of water. The perch lure is 
neither is it a matter of pulling him in can think. The line should never be permitted to swim wherever it wills, 
by main strength. The fish must be per- held coiled on a stick as one does when Pike are also prone to visit the small 
mitted to run^taking out line as he goes, fishing for crappies, but laid out on the bays connected with lakes. If these bays 
then he must be worked back and al- ice in a suitable length, seventy-five feet are connected with the lake by a thin 
lowed to run again if he so wills. After at least. Then by holding the line tight strip of water forming a passage they 
a little of this (depending upon his size) one feels the strike and then lets the will be sure to come through there, 
he will weaken and may be brought in line run out through his gloved hand, This, and the mouths of channels are 
to the hole. When his head appears, until the time comes when the hook good places to put down a fish house, 
about the handiest thing one can have should be set. I say through the Pike also pass around the points of 
is a small calibered rifle, a shot from “gloved” hand because many an ice fish- peninsulas in going into bays, The deep 
which, aimed to hit the back of the er’s hand has been burned by a line that (Continued on page 38) 
