THE BLACK BASS. 163 



keep it there, it is the custom to use very heavy sinkers, 

 weighing from two to eight ounces, at the end of the Hne, the 

 snelled hook being placed a foot or two above it, after the 

 manner of the "dipsey" lead on the east coast. One or two 

 artificial flies are often added to the line above the baited 

 hook. The heavy sinker is often made to pound or strike on 

 the rocks, ostensibly to attract the attention of the Bass. 

 Of course it is possible to catch Bass on these reefs in the 

 usual way — with light rods and tackle and the smallest sized 

 sinkers and swivels, and it is the method I employ; but it is 

 also certain that those who use the heavy sinkers catch the 

 most fish, and for this reason it is fair to presume that this 

 will always be the favorite method with Lake Erie anglers. 



In order to induce this large class of anglers to discard the 

 unsightly and insufficient natural cane rods of large caliber 

 and great weight, as usually employed, I have devised a mod- 

 ification of the "Henshall rod" for this special fishing, which 

 requires a short, stiffish, and springy rod, of medium weight, 

 in order to manipulate so heavy a sinker. It will be fully 

 described a few pages later in this article. 



FLY-FISHING, 



Rods. — For fly-fishing on streams a lighter rod can be 

 employed than on lakes, for reasons heretofore given. This 

 should be ten feet and three inches in length and seven and 

 one-half ounces in weight, with a somewhat stiffer back than 

 a Trout fly-rod of the same length and weight. The rod 

 may vary a little in its dimensions from this standard; it may 

 be slightly longer or shorter, or a little lighter or heavier, to 

 suit particular tastes or waters; but in no case should it vary 

 more than three inches in length or one half-ounce in weight 

 in either direction. 



Of course, a Trout rod of about these dimensions will an- 

 swer very well for Black-Bass fishing, but as the flies to be 

 used are usually larger than Trout flies, and as the Bass is 



