BLACK BASS FISHING. 303 



" This is a game fish, affording the angler the very highest enjoy- 

 ment. These fish are taken in various ways. When collected on 

 their feeding grounds, in August and the succeeding fall months, 

 they are sometimes taken in considerable numbers. The usual mode 

 of angling for them at this time, is either with or without a float, 

 and with live bait — a small fish taken for the purpose, along the lake 

 shores or in brooks. They are exceedingly strong and active — 

 qualities which delight th^ angler. When first hooked, they run 

 very wild, and almost invariably rise to the surface, and leap one, 

 two, and even three feet in the air, shaking the head violently, evi- 

 dently with a view to dislodge the fatal hook. Frequently, while 

 making their runs, they will suddenly turn and come with all their 

 power directly towards their enemy, and by thus slacking the line, 

 will succeed in shaking the hook loose : this often happens with in- 

 experienced fishermen, but more rarely with the angler who holds a 

 good reel and winds rapidly. The most beautiful mode of angling 

 for them known, is trolling, either with live bait or an artificial fly 

 of large size and gay appearance. The writer has succeeded re- 

 markably well with a fly made on a large-sized Limerick hook, such 

 as are used for Striped Bass when fishing with crab bait. The fly 

 is made as follows : — Body of a peacock feather, wings of bright 

 scarlet kerseymere and white pigeon feathers ; or, the feather strip- 

 ped from a white goose-quill, and wound round like the hackle, and 

 surmounted with thin strips of scarlet forwings. For trolling plea- 

 santly and comfortably, the angler should provide a moveable seat, 

 which he can place across the gunwale of his boat, in order that he 

 may sit with his back to the oarsman, and facing the stern. Thus 

 he will have full command of his rod and line, and not be sitting 

 in the cramping attitude which the lowness of the seats would cause. 

 He should reel off" fifty to sixty, or even one hundred or more feet 

 of line, and in going over shallow reefs of seven or eight feet depth, 

 two hundred feet, as the fish feeding on the reefs usually dart aside as 

 the boat passes, and do not return immediately to their harboring spot, 

 which is one reason why those who do not use the reel are not as suc- 

 cessful as those who employ it. After a few moments they glide back 

 to their favorite spot, and as the fly comes along, dart at and seize it.' 

 A strong tug is felt by the angler, who has only to draw gently, and 



