106 CHANNEL LAKE. 



ever bars there may be in the lake. Fourthly, the 

 main body of the lake and deepest portions of all. 



Bass and pickerel alternate between the deepish 

 water adjoining the main body and the lilypads on 

 the margin, according to the variations of the weather, 

 or, in other words, according to the existing condi- 

 tions of heat and cold. The colder the weather, the 

 deeper the water the fishes will seek in which to lie, 

 and as the temperature warms the fishes seek the 

 shallow portions of a lake. On an extremely hot 

 day bass will crowd into the shallow, muddy bot- 

 toms at the roots of the lilypads and refuse all bait. 

 On such occasions, if a bait is cast near them it will 

 cause them to vacate the spot in a manner which 

 shows them to be scared. They are not in a feeding 

 humor and aje easily frightened by any disturbance 

 in their vicinity; but, as soon as the heat of the day 

 is over and evening draws near, the bass forsake the 

 lilypads for the feeding grounds adjoining. On chilly 

 days the bass lie in the rush patches, bass weeds and 

 deepish water adjoining. While lying in such places 

 they may be enticed often with a bait, and will seize 

 it provided too much exertion is not requii'ed to do 

 so, even when not in a feeding humor. From these sit- 

 uations, as evening approaches and the wind goes 

 down, they seek the nearest shallow frequented by 

 small fry and there feed. 



With all predatory fishes the two principal requisites 

 are a lay-by or resting place and a feeding ground. In a 

 lake these two places are close together, because 

 fishes that inhabit bodies of still water are local in 

 their habits and do not roam from one point to another 

 any very great distance, as do those who inhabit run- 

 ning water. 



The minnows and small fry upon which bass and 

 pickerel feed are to be found in greater numbers in 

 those shallow portions of the water between the out- 

 side shore line and the bass weeds immediately ad- 

 joining the rush line, and this portion of the lake is 



