CHAPTER XXIII. 



STILL-FJSHING. 



" And if you rove for a Perch with a minnow, then it is best to be alive, 

 you sticking your hools tlirough his bacli-fln; or a minnow with tlie hook 

 in liis upper lip, and letting him swim up and down, about mid-water 

 or a little lower, and you still keeping him to about that depth by a 

 cork." — IZAAK Walto-n. 



Still-fishixg is the most universal mode of angling 

 for the Black Bass. As tlie name implies, it consists in 

 throwing in the baited hook, and waiting patiently for "a 

 bite," the angler, meanwhile, keeping himself and rod as 

 still as possible. Fly-fishing is surface fishing; casting 

 the minnow is both surface and mid-water fishing; while 

 still-fishing combines mid-water and bottom fishing. In 

 fly-fishing and casting the minnow the bait is kept in 

 pretty constant motion, while in still-fishing the bait is 

 left to itself, or "still," for a longer or shorter time. 

 Still-fishing on streams is best practiced from the banks, 

 while on lakes or large ponds a boat is necessary. 



Tackle. 



Still-fishing is often practiced without a reel, and some- 

 times without a rod, a hand-line, merely, being used. 

 When no reel is employed, the rod should be quite long 

 and light; the best being a cane ])ole, from twelve to fii- 

 teen feet in length. \\'hen the reel is used (as it always 

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