The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-23
FOR SALT WATER TROLLING.
A Device to Regulate the Depth OF tho Halt
without Using n Fixed shaker.

In trolling In salt water-a practice much in
vogue by anglers in the East River and Off the
Jersey coast and Staten I5land-the power to
regulate and alter the depth at which the bait
travels under the water, without having to
change the weight OF tho lead or sinker, is OF
much Importance. At certain times of the tide
and of the day the fish are to be found near the
surface. and at other times near the bottom, and
upon the power to regulate the depth of the
bait under those circumstances. and also In
passing over uneven bottom, good sport depends.
1t has been found in practice that to accom-.
plish this the best method Is to use n good heavy
sinker with at least twenty yards of line Tor
snood) between the sinker and me bait, especial
~ in deep sea trolling. With n hand line 40
fitted this is easily accomplished, and the depth
at which the bait travels can be regulated by the
depth ut which the sinker is allowed to sink in
the water. There Ia no question that there is far
more sport in catching a fish with a rod than
with a hand line, but how to work u rod and reel
up a fish when using a heavy sinker has hitherto
been Il difficulty. II n fish is hooked the sinker
prevents the line behind 1t from being reelcd up.
to say nothing Of the immense strain Of the
sinkcr itself on the rod.
This simple device has boon found to work
most admirably: Instead of having tho sinker
| attached 10 the reel line. have 1t attached to an
entirely independent hand line, the sinker being
fitted with a clip consisting OF. n piece of or
binary brass wire bont and splicod together at
one end TO form a fork. One end Of tho clip 4
hooked onto tho sinker and tho other end Ia
attached 10 a swivel at tho end OF the hand line,
To work this system, pay of from he reel as much
line as IL deemed necessary and insert the line
H. the fork OF the clip: then lower the sinker into
the water by means of the hand line 10 the depth
required, and make fast the hand line to some
pin on the side OF the boat. II viii he found that
the line is held fast in the fork OF this clip, the
swivel preventing any twisting OF. hitching oi
the line AS the sinkCr travels through the water.
As soon as q fish seihcS tho bait tho sudden
pull which ii gives frees the limo from the clip
aud the fisherman then has the fish OH the end
OF his line and is able TO play and reel II up IA
last as he likes without being incumbered by
any weight or sinkor attached to the line. The
hand line and sinkcr can be pulled In by the
bOatmcn at any time.
BY this system the hiatt can he made 10 travel
at any depth by regulating the depth of the
sinkor, which can bc altered without having to
stop 10 change leads. The sinker is so Tar way
from the bait thar no fish is frightened by 1t. "A
soon us a fish strikes the halt the line leaves TIA,
clip, and Is perfectly free on the rod. A much
lighter rod may be used than that ordinarily
used for trolling In deep salt water.
This. might. prove practical in fresh water iT
tho taking Of big black bass. piekerel, muskal
l l0nge, and lake trout