STRIPED BASS. 213 
certainly tear off your baits, and perhaps your float and 
sinker ; the sinker must strike the water in advance of 
the float, or the leader is apt to hitch ronnd the upper 
point of the latter. 
The most scientific and truly sportsmanlike mode of 
taking striped bass must be admitted to be with the fly ; 
which, unfortunately, can only be done in the brackish 
or fresh water. Like salmon, they will not take the fly 
in the salt creeks and bays, and thus, though the sport is 
excellent, it is confined to few localities, and those diffi- 
cult of access. Fly-fishing may be done either with the 
ordinary salmon rod, or in a strong current with the 
common bass rod, by working your fly on the top of the 
water and giving a considerable length of line. The 
best fly is that with the scarlet ibis and white feathers 
mixed, the same as used for black bass ; but bass may 
be taken with any large fly, especially those of gay color. 
Excellent sport is frequently had in this way from off 
some open bridge, where the falling tide, mixed with the 
fresh water, rushes furiously between the piers. 
It is generally conceded that the best time for bass 
fishing is at night, especially if the moon be bright. 
The most favorable wind is a southwesterly one, strong 
enough to make a good ripple on the water, and the 
right time of tide from half-ebb to half-fiood. In the 
shallower inlets the neap tides are preferable, as they 
do not drain the water so low as to alarm the fish. 
In bass fishing, whether for trolling or casting, the rod 
should be eight to ten feet long, stiff and light, but with 
a certain amount of elasticity. A rod made of a piece 
of bamboo, cut in two joints, will, until some awkward 
