388 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



not so abundant in sluggish lowland streams and bayous, or in 

 the shallow, warmer lakes. 



In Lake Maxinkuckee it is abundant and well known. People 

 living about the lake, and most of the anglers who visit it, know 

 this fish as the "goggle-eye" or "red-eye". The name "rock bass" 

 is not so often heard and is used chiefly by those who speak by the 

 book or who are from further north. 



As a game fish the Rock Bass is, in most places, regarded with 

 considerable favor, though at this lake it is usually regarded 

 merely as a good fish to get when all the gamier species fail. It 

 is a fish which can be captured at almost any time and with any 

 sort of bait. They begin biting in the early spring as soon as the 

 ice goes off, and can be taken at any time until the ice forms 

 again ; indeed, it is often taken through the ice. Perhaps August 

 is usually one of the best months. They bit phenomenally in the 

 latter part of April and the first half of May in 1901. In 1899, not 

 many were taken in July, but during August many fine catches 

 were made. Any one who cared to fish for redeyes seldom failed to 

 get a good number. In 1900, perhaps the largest catches were 

 made in August, but July fishing met with better success than in 

 the previous year. 



In the spring of 1901, from about April 28 to the middle of 

 May, they bit ^ almost everywhere in shallow water. One of the 

 favorite places was off the Ice-houses, and here a considerable num- 

 ber of men, women and boys congregated with long cane poles 

 and pulled out Rock Bass almost continuously. On April 28, 7 

 boys who had been fishing only a little time had 79, and the fish- 

 ing continued in that manner for some time. These Rock Bass 

 also bit well in various other places in the lake. Two men camping 

 near Murray's and fishing from boats got considerable numbers. 

 A favorite fishing place for them was the rock pile off Lakeview 

 Hotel. The fishes hid among the crannies in the rocks and bit 

 eagerly at worms. Most of those got here were rather small. A 

 number were caught on set-lines about the same time. 



The Rock Bass can be taken on any kind of bait. Perhaps 

 the most attractive baits are small minnows, white grubs and 

 angleworms, all of which are best used in still-fishing. Grass- 

 hoppers, pieces of mussel, pieces of fish, in fact, almost any ani- 

 mal substance, will prove effective. Trolling with live minnow, 

 phantom minnow or spoon at times proves very successful, and they 

 have been taken on the artificial fly and the artificial frog. 



It is a voracious fish and will bite viciously even when its stom- 

 ach is filled with crawfishes or other food. 



