The sun., 1916-09-24
NEXT MONTH BEST
FOR DELAWARE PIKE
Upper Part Of the River Best
Adapted to the
Sport.

HANCOCK, y. Y, Sept. 23-If an
angler mi delightful sport these cool
September days. now Is the time to fish
In the upper Delaware for pike. a a
who knows this type OF angling we'll il
Leslie La Valley Of this town. But le,
Mr.. La Valley tell his story in his own
way.
with cool weather" said Mr.. La VAL
ley to THE SuN correspondent. pike
fishing comes into prominence. The close
OF the o season. wnich Will soon bc
followed by the bass. leaves many fisher
men with nothing To do.
"A large share OF these VIII turn TO
the grea, 'walley.d pike for several
months sport. While trout and bass
can he taken by any kid who Is fortunate
enough to Own "a cheap rod. line and
hook. pike fishing requires IA thorough
knowledge OF the habits OF the iisi. the
kind Of bait he takes at different times
and also an abundance Of energy, am
bition and persistence.
without these a person will never
make a successful pin fisherman.
The upper part Of the Delaware River
is especially adapted TO the pike as II
flows between the spurs OF the catski.l
and Pennsylvania mountains, forming
many long and deep cddies, Pike never
remain In water less than twelve or If
teen feet deep. and are sometimes found
along submerged lodges or great rocks.
which makes the fishing very difficult
for even the most skilful fishermen. AS
a general rule. however. they choose a
largo eddy with n clear sandy bottom
free from mud and surken drift.
October to February Best.
The pike season is open from May l
10 March l. but is at It's best from Oc-
tober TO February, providing ice or hlgh
water does not interfere. Most of the
fishermen agree that the fishing is best
early In the morning before the river
fog lifts. Others claim to hav the
best luck after sunset.
pike will strike a bright spoon hook
on . moonlight night but unless the eddy
Ia we'll known the depth of the water
cannot be Judged. and loss Of tackle is
the result. In the daytime pike will
sometimes hit a spoon hook or plug, but
these cases are exceptions. for at this
line they are usually very shy.
Pike are caught by trolling around
the eddy with tho bait deep In the water
A strong line In necessary on account OF
the size Of the Ash. and also a good reel
at least triple or ~quadruple multiple. The
rod Is not so important. Some fishermen
use an ordinary bait rod. but a five foo,
casting rod IN a great deal handler. A
heavy hand line works well because OF
the speed at which the Ash can be landed,
but its disadvantages outweigh its USE
fuiness,
Tho bait. Of course, Is the most i'm.
~netant vort NJ tha nutAt II rpttet Nrai
be attractive to the eye OF the pike. and
also have the hook or hooks 80 arranged
that the fish will become fast no matter
how he strikes the bait. Care must bs
taken that too much OF the hook Is no,
visible, for that would make II a failure
"A green and white sinking plug IL
used to some extent. and a great many
spoon hooks Of different sizes, shapes and
models, beaded. colored and feathered.
Lamprey Eel Attractive Bait.
.These have from one to three hooks
and are all fairly good killers, but thu
best all around rig IL a large, long
shanked hoo on a wire leader with
small revolving spoon about half al
inch above the ring Of the hook.
"A lamprey eel hooked through thu
middle and with its head dashed to thu
shank OF the hook with a fine wire at
tached especially for that purpose TO thu
! ring partly conceals the hook anC
makes q very attractive bait undel
water.
Care must be taken not to hav tn,
| tail OF the eel project far beyond the enc
OF the hook. or the pike will tear It OF
without becoming hooked. Lamprey cell
| dug during the summer n preserved II
] alcohol keep hard and tough for a loni