24 THE SMALL-MOUTHED BASS 



and thus not only distributing food for fish of all kinds, but 

 also keeping the water clean. 



In consequence of this the angler will always find the 

 best fishing in these narrow channels, where, if he makes 

 careful observation, he will notice a current running first one 

 way and then the opposite. 



The bass frequent these spots, generally in shoals of five 

 to ten, lying in wait under some shelving rock for minnows 

 playing near the water's edge or silver shiners swimming 

 swiftly by, or for unsuspecting crayfish as they creep, with out- 

 stretched arms, from stone to stone. 

 Shoal fishing for bass in Geor- 

 gian Bay is perhaps the most 

 difficult of all forms of fresh water 

 angling. When a steady wind 

 from any westerly direction is blow- 

 ing, the bass, during the day, espe- 

 cially in bright sunshine, frequent 

 what are termed by the fishermen 

 "shoals," situated a mile or so 



from shore. These are shallow places, varying in area from 

 ten to one hundred acres, and in depth from two to ten feet, 

 protected by outlying reefs or small islands sufficiently to 

 prevent the heavy swells outside from breaking in, but in 

 such a way as to produce eddies and currents which keep 

 the water in a continual state of agitation. Probably the 

 fish frequent these shoals to secure the crayfish which are 

 driven from the crevices of the rocks and are easily captured 

 in rough water. 



The sport here is always good, but exciting and sometimes 

 dangerous; for it is impossible to anchor, and one must 

 keep continually on the alert for fear of striking the bottom, 

 which is strewn with jagged rocks of all sizes and shapes. 

 In addition, the angler must be able to handle his boat alone, 

 because, with an assistant rowing, he can never be sure of 



