FLY-FISHIXG. 403 



Brook Trout, upon the supposition that the two fish are 

 identical in habits and instincts. But while their habits 

 of feeding are very similar — both feeding on the bottom, 

 in midwater, or on the surface, on Crustacea, larvse, min- 

 nows, insects, etc. — they differ greatly in other habitual feat- 

 ures and idiosyncrasies. 



The Black Bass will rise to the fly as readily, under any 

 and all conditions, as the Brook Trout, when fished for 

 understandingly, and under proper precautions. There are 

 times, seemingly favorable, when neither Bass nor Trout 

 will rise to the fly. 



One reason why the Bass is thought to be uncertain in 

 rising to the fly is this: While he is fully as wary as the 

 Trout he is not so timid. A Trout darts incontinently 

 away at the first glimpse of the angler, and is seen no 

 more ; but the Bass will retire but a short distance, and 

 as often will stand his ground, and on balanced fins will 

 watch the angler vainly casting his ''brown hackle" or 

 " coachman " over him, perhaps laughing in his sleeve 

 (shoulder girdle) at his discomfiture. The truth of the 

 matter is, the Bass is not uncertain, but he is too knowing 

 to be deceived by his flies, so long as the angler is in 

 sight. 



Fish are more suspicious regarding objects on the sur- 

 face of the water than of those beneath. I have often 

 demonstrated this, causing them to skuriy away, by hold- 

 ing a long stick immediately over them, above the surface; 

 while I could introduce the same stick underneath the 

 water and even prod a fish with it, without alarming it 

 much. This is why more caution is necessary in fly-fish- 

 ing than in bait-fishing ; the bait in one instance being on 

 the surface, and in the other, beneath. If a Black Bass^ in 



