FOREST, LAKE, AND RIVER 



grasses were the favorite spots chosen to try our 

 luck. The baits were skipped about until a rush 

 was made and a fish struck. 



In the absence of a reel, the contest was apt to 

 degenerate into a test of strength, 'twixt line and 

 fish, yet at the same time a certain amount of 

 skill was necessary to guide, hold, and tire this 

 strong, rushing, plunging, rebellious foe. 



Exciting, indeed, it was, and the day quickly 

 passed when the bites and strikes were frequent. 



At times, I remember, a piece of red flannel 

 and a strip of white cloth were sufficient to entice 

 some big chap into supposing it was a dainty 

 morsel. 



Later in life, when discarded were these un- 

 couth and cumbersome appliances, on a dainty 

 trolling spoon, the line partially sunken by a 

 small lead, these fish struck well and made a strong 

 and good struggle before they were captured. I 

 have often taken them in some of the larger lakes 

 while trying for bass, and as my rod was then a 

 light one, I found a large pickerel was full of 

 gamy resistance, and that it was fairly difficult to 

 land him with success. One moment these fish 

 are lying quietly without apparent motion, the 

 next they dart forth like an arrow at some prey, 

 or a bait that may seem to suit their fancy. 

 54 



