362 BOOK OF THE BLACK BASS. 



closely observing the habits of fish, the character of theii* 

 haunts, and the nature and variety of their food ; so as to 

 enable the angler to know, so far as can be known, when 

 and where to find the fish at certain seasons, or at differ- 

 ent stages of the water; when they are most inclined to 

 "bite;" and to know, approximately, what bait to use. 



This information can be acquired in no other way but 

 by patient and continued observation ; and, without it, all 

 is guess-work. It is just as essential to the angler to 

 know where to fish, as to know how. If he has a fair 

 knowledge of the habits of game-fish, he can at once 

 seek out the most likely places, on lake or stream, by 

 seeming intuition. 



Black Bass are found at different localities in the same 

 waters, at different seasons, and frequently shift their 

 quarters many times during the same season, depending 

 on the nature and locality of their food ; the influences of 

 wind and weather, condition of the water, etc. 



Thus, early in the season, they will be found on streams 

 in shallow water, just below the rapids, or "riffles," where 

 the water is warmest, feeding on helgramites and other 

 larvae, Crustacea, minnows, etc. As the water gets warmer, 

 they resort to stiller water, under overhanging trees, and 

 feed upon the surface when the insects and flies appear. 

 Still later, they seek greater depths, adjacent to shelving 

 banks, gravelly shoals and rocky ledges, seeking min- 

 nows, Crustacea, etc. 



They may be found one day in water, say ten feet 

 deep, and the very next day be seen in the shallowest 

 water near shore. I will mention a striking instance of 

 this kind: 



On one occasion, I went in company with a party of 



