Favorite Fish and Fishing 



overhead, instead of underhand, more accu- 

 rate line shots could be made into the small 

 open spaces. As the weedy character of 

 the waters rendered the proper playing of 

 a bass difficult or ineffectual, the short, stiff 

 rod proved itself capable of rapidly reeling 

 in the fish, willy nilly. Of course the pleas- 

 ure of playing a fish in a workmanlike man- 

 ner, as in open water, would be lost, to say 

 nothing of denying the fish a chance for its 

 life by depriving it of a fair field and no 

 favor — the only sportsmanlike way. 

 Casting Baits Eventually the short rod and overhead 



cast became popular at casting tournaments, 

 where it was also demonstrated that by 

 reducing its length to five and even four 

 feet longer casts were possible. Unfor- 

 tunately the use of this very short and stiff 

 rod was extended to practical fishing, and 

 with Its use was evolved a number of cast- 

 ing baits that out-herod anything yet pro- 

 duced In the way of objectionable artificial 

 baits. They are huge, clumsy creations of 

 wood or metal, of an elliptical form or 

 otherwise, and bristle with from three to 

 28 



