Introduction

S>H UC-NRLF f J 1 1 ' 'J - GENERAL LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF CAIIFORNIA E. CHALMEK8-HALLAM Sporting ornaan-xt Book WAY Specialist HiLLINODON SPINNING AND TROLLING Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2007 with funding from IVIicrosoft Corporation http://www.archive.org/details/completeguidetosOOotterich UJ 1^ : A COMPLETE GUIDE TO SPINNING AND TROLLING. BY O T T E R,"^^tui^^^ . AUTHOR OF "THE M[OODDEERRN ANGLER," ETC., ETC. H.r NEW EDITION. LONDON ALFRED AND SON, 20, MooRQATE Street. [All ris^ts reservedi\ Hazell, Watson, and VIney, Printers, London and Aylesbury. PREFACE Since the first appearance of my ** Guide to Spinning- and Trolling," in 1859, I am happy to say it has worked its way through several editions; but there being now some extra patterns of tackle, etc., not in existence at that time, I have considered it advisable to take the present opportunity of revising it, and adding thereto illustrations and descriptions of such new tackle and baits as are really useful to the practical Angler; for though I describe what I use and find most killing my- my self, yet I do not pin faith to one particular tackle, and ignore everything else, but am always ready to try other styles, and on finding them successful, do equal justice to them, and note them accordingly. ** OTTER.'' Chiswick, W. Jajiuary^ 1878. M846477 CONTENTS CHAPTER I. * PACE THE PIKE [esOX LUCIUS), WHERE FOUND AND WHEN IN SEASON--ARTIFICIAL FLY FOR PIKE . . .1 CHAPTER II. -- THE SPINNING ROD-- WINCH--LINE TRACE--FLIGHT OF HOOKS--HOOKS--SPINNING TACKLE . . $ CHAPTER III. ARTIFICIAL BAITS--CASE FOR SPINNING TACKLE, ETC.-- -- FISH BAG LANDING NET AND GAFF HOOK . . 23 CHAPTER IV. INSTRUCTIONS IN SPINNING--THROWING THE BAIT STRIKING, PLAYING, AND LANDING THE FISH . 30 CHAPTER V. LIVE-BAIT FISHING--THE ROD, WINCH, AND LINE--FLOAT --TRACE--LIVE-BAIT HOOKS, AND HOW TO BAIT THEM--THE PATERNOSTER--BAITS AND KETTLE- IMPROVED BAIT-CAN . . . . .34 viii CONTENTS. CHAPTER VI. PAGE THE BANK RUNNER, TRIMMER, ETC. . . .45 CHAPTER VII. WHEN, AND HOW, TO FISH WITH LIVE-BAIT FOR PIKE -- STRIKING AND LANDING THE FISH PIKE-GAG . 47 CHAPTER VIII. -- -- TROLLING THE ROD, WINCH, LINE, AND TRACE GORGE- HOOK, AND HOW TO BAIT IT--WEED-HOOK--SPEAR- -- GORGE GORGE-BAITS . . . . -54 CHAPTER IX. -- HOW TO WORK THE GORGE-BAIT DISTANCE TO THROW --TIME TO ALLOW FOR POUCHING, ETC. . . 59 CHAPTER X. SNAP-FISHING--THE ROD, WINCH, LINE, AND TRACE-- -- -- THE LIVE-BAIT SNAP SPRING-SNAP DEAD-SNAP, ETC. . . . . . . .61 CHAPTER XI. SPINNING FOR TROUT AND PERCH--THE ROD AND TACKLE REQUIRED--BAITS, ETC 68 SPINNING AND TROLLING. CHAPTER I. THE PIKE {eSOX LUCfUS), WHERE FOUND AND WHEN IN SEASON--ARTIFICIAL FLY FOR PIKE. Esox Lucius. The Pike is one of the most voracious of fresh- water fish, having a flattish head, the underjaw rather longer than the upper one, and turning up slightly at the point ; the mouth is immensely large, and thickly studded with teeth. The body is long, with small hard scales; when in season, the back is of a greenish gold colour, shaded into a creamy white under the belly, and beautifully marked 2 THE PIKE. on the back and sides with large yellowish spots ; and when at home amongst the weeds, he is hardly to be distinguished in the wavy masses of verdure around him. His eyes are bright yellow, so placed as to enable him to see what passes above. The fins and tail are a dark purply colour, marked with dark wavy lines. When young, and up to four or five pounds in weight, he is called a Jack ; and when at all hungry, nothing comes amiss to him ; I have had Jack a foot in length seize a bait of half their length, and allow themselves to be lifted out of the water, rather than re- lease their prey. The Pike is found almost all over Europe, in ponds, lakes, canals, and rivers, where there are beds of weeds, and will under favourable circumstances attain to an extremely heavy weight and great age. In this country they have rarely exceeded eighty pounds ; but in the Field of 9th June, 1877, there is mention of a monster which weighed a hundred and thirty pounds being caught in the Lake of Con- stance. The largest I have taken weighed twenty-two pounds ; this I caught in the Thames at Great Marlow, in October 1868, with the live-bait-snap drawn at page 62, working it through and along the edges of the weed-beds in the centre of the river. From March to the end of June, Jack are out of season, when they resort to back waters that have a direct communication with the THE PIKE-- WHERE FOUND. 3 main stream, or to the stillest parts of the river, for the purpose of spawning, after which they remain for some time long and thin ; the various spots and golden tinge on their sides and back then lose much of their brilliancy, and their heads appear unusually large through their having then lost that depth and rotundity of body (especially about the vent fin) which they possess when in full season ; at such times the small ones take the bait eagerly, but are only fit to be returned to the water. From July (on the first of which month Jack- fishing generally commences) to October, they are usually found near or amongst waterdocks, sedges, or flag-weeds. They are seldom found where the stream is very rapid, but a retreat in the vicinity of a whirlpool or sharp bend is a favourite locality for them. In rivers, about the middle of September, when the weeds are rotting, by dropping down the stream quietly in a punt, the Jack may be observed lying among the weeds basking in the sun ; they then seem too lazy to take the bait, for it is not unusual to see numerous small fish swimming and playing around this deadly enemy of the finny tribe without his taking the trouble to disturb them. As winter approaches they retire into the deeps under clay banks, or where bushes hang over the water, and where stumps and roots of trees offer them a strong hold. At -4 ARTIFICIAL FLY FOR PIKE. such times a very large artificial dragon-fly will be found a first-rate bait for large Pike. It is to be used somewhat like the spinning bait, but without any weight on the line, and is to be worked on or near the top of the water. In lakes and large ponds it is an excellent bait. The most favourable weather for spinning, or, indeed, for any description of Jack- fishing, is when a slight breeze blows from the southwest, sufficient to ripple the water, and the day is cloudy and dull ; at such times keep the wind as much as possible at your back. Thick water is not favourable for spinning, for during a flood, which causes a coloured water, Jack and Pike keep close in- shore among the rushes and sedges which grow near the banks, or in the still bends of rivers, to keep out of the rapid current, where they remain almost stationary until the waters clear and subside. The angler who chooses to try for them then must spin close to the weeds, or he will seldom move a fish; but immediately the water clears, then comes the spinner's turn, for the Pike and Jack having been for some time on short allowance, are then bold, voracious, and fearlessly take the spinning bait. And here I may mention that I consider the best way of cooking Pike is to split them down the back after being properly scaled and cleaned, then take out the long back-bone SPINNING. 5 with as many of the side-bones as possible if large, cut in fillets, and fry with egg and bread-crumbs ; it should be crisp and richly browned. If intended to be eaten hot, it should be really hot, not half cold. Talley- rand was of this opinion. When dining one day with the Minister of Finance, a fine Carp was placed opposite Talleyrand, but, unfortunately, nearly cold. The financier remarked, ' That is a splendid Carp : how do you like it ? It came from my estate of Vir-sur-Aisne." ' Did it?" said Talleyrand; slyly adding, " but why did you not have it cooked here ?^^ CHAPTER II. THE SPINNING ROD--WINCH--LINE--TRACE--FLIGHT -- -- OF HOOKS HOOKS SPINNING TACKLE. The art of Jack-fishing is commonly termed TROLLING, but this branch of angling is more properly divided and described by anglers under the four following heads, viz., spinning, LIVE -BAITING, TROLLING, and SNAP-FISHING. Spinning means the art of taking Pike, Jack, or other fish with a bait to which is communicated a revolving or spinning motion when it is drawn through the water ; live-baitijig, when 6 THE SPINNING ROD. a float is used to the line and a live fish for the bait ; trolling^ in the limited sense of the word, is understood to mean taking Pike or Jack with a gorge hook ; and snap -fishing, when the angler uses hooks of such a description, that immediately he feels a bite, if he is fishing without a float, or sees a run if he is fishing with a float, he strikes sharply, without allowing the fish time to pouch. Spinning is by far the most scientific and interesting method of fishing for Pike, as it requires some amount of muscular exertion to practise it properly. Trout, Pike, and Perch, of all sizes, but generally the largest, are -- caught by spinning either the natural fish or the artificial pectoral-fin bait being used with the latter, however, I have often taken the best fish. The rod I recommend for spinning is of mottled East India cane, from twelve to thir- teen feet in length. It is made in four pieces, so as to close up in a partition case, in a com- pact form for travelling, having a couple of extra tops, in case of breakage. All the tops should be made of lancewood, and should vary in length, so as to stiffen the action of the rod when requisite. The shoulders of each joint should be double-brazed; the plain shoulders almost invariably sticking in the ferule of the next joint, in wet weather, in consequence of the wood swelling, and causing considerable trouble to take the rod to pieces after use. THE WINCH. 7 When this occurs, any difficulty in taking the rod to pieces, arising from this cause, may be obviated by warming the long ferule in the flame of a candle; when cold, it may easily be separated. The rod should also be fitted with strong fixed upright rings. The rings at the end of the tops should be of steel, as the con- stant friction of the line in spinning soon wears away or cuts through any other metal. The same remark applies to the large ring on the butt, which should also be of steel, fitted so as to run round easily in a brass collar, as this ring receives an equal amount of work with the end ring on the top ; for when the line has once cut into or notched the rings, they, in return, wear away the line. Besides the spinning rods which are made of mottled bamboo, there are others of hickory, having the butt-piece of ash and the tops of lancewood, either made entirely of that wood or with a piece of bamboo spliced at the end. These are first-rate rods for heavy fishing, or for rough work, but I prefer the mottled cane, as much for the handsome appearance as for the difference in weight. The winch should be either entirely a plain one, or what is called a plain check, as a multiplier is not required for Jack-fishing. I prefer the check-winch bronzed, as I have a great objection to the glitter of bright brass on the water. Notice a fisherman with a bright winch on his rod when the sun is shining, and 8 THE niNCH. you can see the glitter for a considerable distance, and I believe the fish see it as plainly but if the winch is bronzed, you at once do away with the glare. The improved bronzed winches are amongst the latest improvements in the angler's equipment; their advantages are, extreme lightness, absence of the annoying glitter of the brass, and instead of the handle being made in the old style, it is fixed to and turns with one plate of the winch, thus preventing the line catching round the handle and locking the winch. In addition to the brass and bronzed winches, there are others of hard wood ; some fisher- men prefer these. Instead of allowing the line, in spinning, to lay at their feet in the usual manner, they throw the line directly from the winch, using rather a long rod, and wind it in again on to the winch, instead of drawing it in with the hand. But as the wooden winches, or reels, run very easy, they require considerable care in use; for if the line is thrown from them with the least jerk, when the bait has dropped in the water and the line stopped running, the winch will continue running and wind the line the reverse way, often entangling it and getting it into knots. These winches, however, through running easy, are of considerable advantage in other descriptions of Jack-fishing, as will be seen in Chapter V., on live-bait fishing. LINE-- TRACE. 9 We next come to the line, which should be from sixty to a hundred yards long, of the best eight-plait silk, rather fine than otherwise, so as to make as little show as possible in the water. It should be prepared with waterproof dressing, which prevents the line kinking, as it is impossible to throw a spinning-bait properly with a line that kinks or curls up in knots, as the undressed lines invariably do, as soon as A they get wet. careful spinneral ways dries his line well after use, and before putting it away, to prevent rotting. The next thing required is the trace, which is fastened to the line thus, ly^>y�'��*�a>�9Bzg8BiZCTieea^^ the end of the line being first knotted, to per- vent it slipping when wet. The trace should be of moderate-sized gimp, with from two to four swivels, and about three feet in length ; the weight required on it to sink the spinningbait will vary, of course, considerably, according to the water in which it is to be used ; as a trace which would be rather heavy for still water, such as a lake or large pond, unless very deep, would be much too light for a strong stream, such as is found in some parts of the Thames and similar rivers. For fishing at the tails of weirs (where I have occasionally taken lo TRACE. good Pike) heavy traces are required, although great care must be taken, if the fisherman is above or on a weir, that the bait does not catch the under-current, as it is almost certain, in this case, to foul, and will cause considerable trouble to extricate, in addition to a great loss of time, if the fish are on the feed ; by judicious handling, however, and by slightly raising the top of the rod, fouling may be avoided. For my own part, I prefer the largest salmon- gut, slightly coloured, for the material of the trace, as it is quite as strong as gimp, if not stronger, (still using moderate-sized gimp for the flight of hooks or artificial bait,) besides being transparent in the water. The trace I use in the Thames is about two yards long, with five swivels, and from twelve to sixteen large shots ; in still water eight shots would be quite sufficient. An extremely useful weight for the trace is that known as the Field lead, so called from being originated by one of the editors of A that celebrated sporting newspaper. sketch is annexed ; and it will be observed that the lead is made so that all the weight is on the under side, the upper side being just thick enough to cover the hole through which the gut or gimp is passed ; the swivels are between the bait and the lead ; and the weight being entirely underneath the line, this is prevented kinking or turning round when in use. It is much used in trailing ; and for the Thames or THE ''FIELD'' LEAD. n Similar large rivers I prefer it hung beneath the trace on a wire, rendering it more effectual for the purpose three or four swivels being used between the lead and the bait. It is a good plan to have the trace in three parts, the hanging lead being of course the centre part, so that the weight of this may be changed according to the strength of the stream. The following trace will be found very useful when extra weight is required : from six to twelve drilled shots are strung on a short piece of gimp, the ends of which are then fastened to a couple of swivels ; to each of these is attached a large loop either of salmon gut or yellow gimp, and the trace is ready for use. Next to the trace comes the flight of hooks, of which there are a great variety. The one I use consists of three triangle hooks, a sliding lip hook, and a reverse hook, mounted on yellow gimp, as in the sketch, the length of the flight, of course, to be in proportion to the bait. r\ FLIGHT OF HOOKS. The most successful natural spinning-bait for Pike I ever used was a small chub, about five inches in length. I have also taken them with small barbel of the same size ; in fact, the first time I spun with a barbel in the Thames, I caught a small Pike, weighing five pounds, at the first throw. This, however, does not prove that barbel and chub are the best baits for Pike, as there is hardly any fish that he will not take; therefore I should use a large bright gudgeon, or middlesized dace, baited as in the sketch on the next page. The hook in the triangle at the end of the flight, which lies opposite to the reverse hook, is in- serted in the centre of the root of the tail ; the reverse hook is then inserted in the side of the bait, nearly opposite to the vent ; one hook of each of the remaining triangles is inserted in the side of the fish, in a line with the mouth, to keep the body straight, and on passing the lip-hook through both lips, the bait is ready for use. By keeping the body perfectly straight as far as the vent, and OTTER'S LIVE-BAIT SNAP. ; BAITING THE FLIGHT. n the tail curved almost at right angles to the body, the bait will spin true when drawn through the water although some anglers prefer the bait to * wobble/ considering that in that state it more resembles a wounded fish (which I believe the spinning bait is intended to represent) than when it spins straight. Probably amongst my readers very few, if any, have ever been privileged to thoroughly inspect a hook factory. Where ** doctors differ," how very great is the dif- ference of opinion upon the shape of a hook : each particular bend has its own particu- lar admirers ; one will tell you that a " Lime- rick" should be used for every fish; another, that unless you stick to a "sneck" you must never expect to hook a fish, much less to land one ; and so on, through all the different and 14 HOOKS. almost endless varieties of shape and make, all of which have their own admirers. Now there is, in the first place, no economy so expensive in the end, or so delusive, as that of investing in cheap hooks. There is, in angling, no branch of more direct importance than this particular one of hooks. If you cannot have confidence in your hook, of what avail is the most perfect skill and manipulation, or the most artistically finished rod or winch ? In the manufacture of hooks, as in that of needles, each department undertakes its own special work, which is kept quite distinct and separate. In the first place, there is one department where the wire is simply cut to the required length and straightened. The wires are then passed to another *' shop," where they receive the barbs ; these are simply cut with a sharp knife, and it is astonishing the amount of skill and dexterity displayed by the barb-cutters acquired by constant attention to that portion of the business. If the barb is cut too deep, it is apt to break off when the point comes in contact with a bone ; and if it is not cut deep enough, it will probably cause the loss of a fish through not being "rank" enough to retain its hold. Roach-fishers who like very fine wire hooks should remember that they can only have an amount of barb in propor- tion to the thickness of wire in the hook. After the wires are barbed, they are filed at ; HOOKS. 15 the points, and in the case of ** best " hooks are filed taper at the other or shank end ; this is to give them a neater appearance when whipped -to the gut or gimp. They then go into another department, where they receive their shape, and make their first appearance as hooks; and as there is a "pattern" to be formed for every shape, size, and description on which the wire is bent, my readers can imagine that there mu5t be some little amount of brain-work required even in making such a common thing as a fish-hook. So far, all goes well, and our hook has received the desired shape : it now has to be hardened. This is done in trays in a furnace. When the hooks are *' white hot," they are slid into a bath of oil to cool. They are now, of course, perfectly brittle, and before being tempered have to be cleaned and brightened. This is done by machinery, and they are then ready for the most delicate operation of the whole business, namely, the *' tempering." There, again, as in the case of a too deeply cut barb, if the hook is not sufficiently tempered, off goes the point, directly a bone is struck ; it may be only the point, although a break generally occurs where the barb is cut in but if a fish is missed, the angler should always examine the hook at once, as if the fine point is gone, only a rough blunt point is left, and with this he must be extremely lucky if he catches anything at all. It is ; i6 HOOKS. a good plan to have a small needle- file in the tackle-case, as very often a touch or two with this will repair the damage. But then, -- again, a hook may be over- tempered, that -- is, too much of the hardening is taken out, and than the hook becomes a perfect nuisance ; all the spring is gone, and the first time a fish is struck out goes your hook ** straight," and away goes your fish to m- form his friends or write to his own special paper about the wonderful electric worm or fiy that gave a marvellous kick directly he touched it. It is of no use to bend that hook back to its shape : take it off, and try the next before joining to your line. The tempering is performed in a fine sand-bath over a branch