NOCTURNAL FEEDING OF GAME-FISH 77 



streams at night on their way to spawn. In the 

 fall, trout lie around mouths of brooks till water 

 is high, then start at night for the spawning beds, 

 and when that duty is done return to the river 

 in the same manner by night. 



We know for certain that trout as well as bass 

 leave their favorite haunt in deep pools to roam 

 around by night in search of food, often to the 

 shallows after minnows. Most often very large 

 trout are seen late at dusk near the banks of the 

 stream in six inches of water (more or less), where 

 they capture young frogs, young muskrats, shiners, 

 and other large-size food. On my tramp home 

 along stream just before darkness sets in, I often 

 meet boys, youths, and men on their way down- 

 stream carrying a lantern and bait-can to a favor- 

 ite rock where they seat themselves till far into 

 the night fishing for suckers or chub, always in 

 the hope of getting on their coarse tackle some 

 roaming trout or bass. They often do capture very 

 large trout on a big hook, on which is impaled 

 either one big or a bunch of small worms, which 

 is sunk to the bottom and allowed to rest there 

 till taken. They know such places are not fruitful 

 by day, because of inactive feeding. Set lines 

 placed at evening for river eels, baited with pieces 



