or triangles, of which many are sold faulty in construction and badly tempered. I have used some that were so soft that the hooks straightened out at the bend and the fish escaped,

while others were so brittle that they snapped at the barb or bend; others were badly brazed, and

are

the hooks came apart. The best I can discover "sneck-bend Trebles." Treble hooks with eyes also often prove very useful to pike-anglers, and both kinds are made in various sizes. (See illustrations.)

Some triangles are bronzed, others are tempered a blue tint; but those that are the natural colour of the wire they are made of are the best (in my opinion), as they assimilate more nearly to the colour of the spinning-bait, whether it be a dace or gudgeon.

CHAPTER IV.

SPINNING-TIIE WATER-HOW AND WHEN

THA

TO SPIN.

HAT branch of the angler's art which approaches more nearly to the elegance of fly-fishing, and is certainly a more artistic way of capturing pike than any other method, is spinning; and as I have already described the rod, tackles, &c., necessary, I will now ask my reader to accompany me to the river, and spin for a pike.

We will put the rod together with the long topjoint, fix the reel in its place, draw the line through the rings, put on the trace and Spinning flight, with a five-inch dace for the bait, and, seeing that it spins nicely, begin by

for

pike fishing all the nearest water first; taking

off from the reel enough line to make a cast of, say, ten yards; then drawing the bait up to within six feet of the rod-top, the line held between the left thumb and fingers, grasping the rod in the right hand, with the knob on the end of the butt placed against the right groin, and the rod at an angle of 45°, we turn the right shoulder towards the place we desire to cast the bait to;

then with a gentle but accelerated swing of the rod, as the "heft" or strain on the line is felt we release it, and the bait should reach the spot wished, and drop into the water with scarcely a splash. Frequent practice will induce skill; then the distance covered may be increased, and the angler will become proficient. It is not of much use spinning water exceeding six feet in depth; choose quiet streams and glides adjacent to sedges and spear-grass, between weed growths, or near beds of water-lilies, whose leaves and stems have been cut off and destroyed by winter frosts. Shallows, near deep holes and weirs, are excellent for spinning, and likely to yield good fish.

Lower the rod point to within a couple of feet of the surface, and holding it at an angle to the bait, begin by drawing the line in at a moderate speed with the left hand; and if a very small sweep or stroke of the rod top is given between the intervals of drawing in the line, it adds to the attractiveness of the spin. The draws or pulls and movement of the rod-top must be varied in quickness and length according to the depth of water; the left hand making a draw about every two seconds or a trifle less, each length of line drawn in being usually about four fect: and a cast should be made over every two yards fished.

The bait should not be lifted from the water until close up to the bank or boat; pike frequently lurk under the nearest bank, especially if sedges or reeds grow in and fringe the water; sometimes pike follow a spinning bait all across the water to the boat or bank, making a desperate dash at the last moment as if afraid to lose it. I have known them to leap out and seize the bait savagely-a

foot from the surface of the water-to their own discomfiture.

Spinning is grand sport when pike are roving about in search of food; then is the best time. Spin your bait a yard or two in front of a feeding fish, and ten to one it will be finest seized with a rush that sport burn with excitement.

Spinning the

will make you

I well remem

ber when the late H. L. Rolfe (the Landseer of fish painters) was my companion, on December 20th, 1876, fishing a grand expanse of water where pikes fed fast and furiously all that short winter's day. My friend was not very well, and as the weather was cold he sat for some time in the stern of the boat wrapped up in a rug, leaving me to do the fishing. Pike were breaking the water all around us, and the bait had only to be spun near a fish to be instantly seized. The results of that day's sport were fifty-four jack and pike, the largest 17 lbs., and three fine perch, from 3lbs. to 2 lbs. each. The waggonette arriving, it was time to pack up my rod and tackle; but on nearing the boathouse I made one parting cast, and landed a pike of II lbs.

When near to trees or wecd-beds, and there is danger of casting the bait into them, the angler should let his line run lightly through his left hand, instantly closing his fingers and thus putting a check on it, if the bait is likely to fall where it may get hung up in boughs or other obstructions. By thus arresting his cast and letting the bait fall into an open place, he will avoid many breakages and save much tackle during a day's spinning, especially in a narrow river where bushes and willows margin the water, or old pollard trunks