The Troller's Guide: Being a Complete Practical Treatise on the Art of Trolling : Or, Fishing for Jack and Pike

The Troller's Guide: Being A Complete Practical Treatise On The Art Of Trolling: Or, Fishing For Jack And Pike by Thomas Frederick Salter is a comprehensive 19th-century manual focused on angling for jack (pike) using trolling techniques. This guide includes introductory remarks on the art of trolling, followed by in-depth chapters on essential gear such as gorge hooks, live-bait hooks, snap-fishing, and the various lines, rods, and winches utilized in the practice. It details the types of baits (including gudgeons, roach, dace, bleak, and minnows), as well as considerations for different seasons and weather conditions. The book provides specific techniques for casting, striking, landing, and unhooking fish, alongside insights into live-bait fishing with floats, snagging methods, and the use of bank runners and other tackle. Additionally, it offers practical advice on preserving live bait, maintaining tackle, and dressing for health. The text also includes observations on the habits and capture of jack and pike, enriched by anecdotal instruction through a narrated fishing experience.