THE BLACK BASS. 165 



two smallest sizes, "F" and "G," should be used, the last be- 

 ing preferable for stream-fishing. 



Leaders. — The leader should be five or six feet long, and 

 formed of the best single silkworm gut that can be obtained. 

 The gut lengths should be carefully selected, and be entirely 

 free from all flaws or imperfections. None but clear, round, 

 strong and sound lengths should be put into a leader for 

 Black-Bass fishing, and then only after testing their strength 

 up to a strain of two pounds dead weight. The caliber of the 

 gut should not be much greater, if any, than that used for 

 Trout-fishing. The leader should taper, somewhat, from the 

 reel-end to the fly-end. The lengths may be tied by the 

 old-fashioned water-knot; but the best knot, and the one 

 now most generally used, has no name that I am aware of. 

 It is simply a "half-hitch," except that it is tied in a double 

 instead of a single cord. The ends of the two gut lengths 

 to be tied (having been previously softened by soaking in 

 warm water) are passed by each other, or lapped about two 

 inches; and tied by a single knot, or half-hitch, drawing the 

 knot as tight, firm, and smooth as possible, and cutting off 

 the ends closely. 



Leaders may be stained or not, according to the fancy of 

 the angler — it will make no difference whatever to the fish. 

 Leaders should be carried in flat, round, or oval metal 

 boxes, between two layers of damp felt, to save time in 

 straightening them by soaking or rubbing with gutta-percha. 



Flies. — The best "general" flies for any or all waters are 

 the brown, red, and black hackles, to which might be added 

 gray and ginger hackles. The best winged flies, according 

 to my own experience, may be selected from the following list: 

 Montreal, Polka, Abbey, Golden Dustman, King of the 

 Water, Professor, Oriole, Oconomowoc, Silver Doctor, 

 Grizzly King, Henshall, Queen of the Water, Red Ibis, Coach- 

 man, White Miller, and Academy. 



Bass-flies are generally made too large, and tied on hooks 



