430 BOOK OF THE BLACK BASS. 



dark, repnl.sive-looking worm, some two or three inches 

 long, and a half-inch wide (the larv^a of the horned cory- 

 dalis), and is found under bowlders, flat stones, decaying 

 timbers, etc., in shallow streams. It is variously called 

 helgramite, dobson, hellion, kill-devil, grampus, crawler, 

 etc., and is best hooked by passing the hook under the 

 cap covering the neck, from behind forward, bringing the 

 hook out next to the head. 



The crawfish, especially when casting its shell — when it 

 is called "peeler" or "shedder" — is a good bait. In its 

 usual state, it is best hooked through the tail ; peelers can 

 be hooked through the head or body. Grasshoppers, 

 crickets, frogs, etc., are used with varying success in still- 

 fishing, and sometimes the humble " wum," 



General Instructions. 



As the still-fisher never casts his bait very far, it is 

 highly important that he keep as still and motionless as 

 possible; and, if in a boat, must avoid striking the same 

 with his feet, his rod, or the oars, as such sounds are heard 

 very distinctly by the fish. He should fish toward the 

 sun, so as to keep his shadow behind him. He should 

 keep his line as taut as possible, with his thumb always 

 upon the spool of the reel (if he uses one), and as the line 

 becomes slack, should reel it in. 



In fishing a lake or pond, tho still-fisher anchors his 

 boat in a favorable spot, which should be in rather deep 

 water, just off a shoal or bar, ledge of rocks, or j)oint of 

 land, or near beds of rushes or lily-pads, so as to fish 

 between the boat and the feeding-grounds, that is, be- 

 tween deep and shallow wattT, and near enough to cast 



