Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 385 



side among the weeds and appear to be actually panting. It is 

 in the shallow channels that they are caught when fishing through 

 the ice. 



In fishing for Calico Bass one must be careful not to select too 

 large a hook. For this lake the best size is No. 1 or No. 2 hook, 

 and a hook with a long barb has advantages, as it is not so easily 

 thrown out when the mouth tears, which it is very apt to do on 

 account of its extreme tenderness. 



While it is true that this fish will take several' kinds of bait, 

 it takes some of them only rarely or reluctantly. As already 

 stated, it has been taken with the fly, and in Lost Lake with the 

 artificial frog, but for lakes like Maxinkuckee such lures are not 

 recommended. Trolling with a small spoon late in the evening or 

 in the early fall is usually fairly successful. They will also now 

 and then take a small live minnow that is being slowly trolled, but 

 they are best taken by still fishing, and the best bait is a small min- 

 now, the more silvery species, such as the Straw-colored minnow 

 (Notropis blennius) , the Red-nosed minnow (N. rubrifrons) or the 

 satin fin (N. ivhipplii) being preferred. A small minnow should 

 be selected, and 2 very small ones put upon the same hook will often 

 prove quite attractive. 



Sometimes the Calico Bass is a greedy biter, taking the hook 

 much as does the straw bass, but after a short quick run it is 

 apt to drop the bait unless it is well hooked. Usually it bites less 

 vigorously than the straw bass, and does not make much of a 

 fight until it is brought near the surface, when it turns upon its 

 side and flaps quite vigorously until brought to net; and it should 

 be mentioned that the landing net is an essential with this fish ; for, 

 owing to its delicate mouth it is not safe to attempt to lift it 

 out of the water by the hook. 



As a pan-fish the Calico Bass is far superior to the rock bass 

 but not equal to the bluegill or yellow perch. Its flesh is white, 

 flaky and firm, but rather coarser than that of the bluegill ; it is, 

 however, sweet, and is, by most persons who are familiar with it, 

 highly esteemed. 



The following, written by Professor Jared Potter Kirtland more 

 than half a century ago, though placing somewhat too high an es- 

 timate upon the food value of this fish, is a reliable and interesting 

 account of its habits. 



"The 'Grass Bass' has not hitherto been deemed worthy of con- 

 sideration by fish culturists ; yet, from a long acquaintance with its 

 merits, I hesitate not to pronounce it the fish for the millions. It 

 is a native of our western rivers and lakes, where it usually resorts 



