24 Bass, Pike, and Perch 



contest should be between rod and fish, rather 

 than between the reel and fish. It is the spring 

 of the rod that conquers him, not the giving and 

 taking of line. If the rod is held firmly, at an 

 angle of forty-five degrees, with the thumb on the 

 spool of the reel, there is no likelihood of a good 

 rod breaking. Line should be given grudgingly, 

 and the fish kept on the surface as much as pos- 

 sible. When exhausted he should be drawn over 

 the landing-net and lifted out quickly, at the same 

 time releasing the thumb from the reel to relieve 

 the strain on the rod. 



In fishing from the bank in deeper streams, or 

 from a boat on small lakes, whereby the fish is 

 better enabled to see the angler, longer casts are 

 necessary, or the angler must screen himself from 

 observation by trees or bushes on the bank. The 

 boat should be kept in the deeper water and the 

 casts made toward the shallows of bars, shoals, 

 and weed patches. The best time for boat fishing 

 on lakes or ponds is from near sundown until 

 dark. 



CASTING THE MINNOW 



The live minnow, shiner preferred, is by far the 

 best bait for the black-bass, as it is more easily 

 seen, and the best way of presenting it is by cast- 



