392 . STRIPED BASS FISHING. 



tlie scarlet bodied fly with scarlet ibis and silver pheasant wings, 

 which is so killing to the Black Bass of the lakes. 



With the fly, he is to be fished for with the double-handed 

 rod, precisely as the Salmon ; and when hooked, though he has 

 not all the artifice and resource of that monarch of the deep, 

 he is hardly inferior to him in agility, strength, and vigour of 

 resistance. 



It is singular that more recourse is not had to this mode of 

 taking him, as in waters where the Salmon is not, there is no 

 sport equal to it. 



Those who try this method will not, I dare to assert, regret 

 the trial ; they must, however, fish from a boat, as the width of 

 the streams which Bass frequent do not permit them to be com- 

 manded from the shores, even with the double-handed rod. 



Again, the Striped Bass may be caught either with the gorge- 

 hook and the trolling tackle described under the head of Pike 

 fishing, or with the spinning-fish and swivel-traces recommended 

 for taking the Salmon. Almost any small fish will answer for 

 the bait, but the New York shiner, the real smelt, or the 

 atherine — alias sand smelt or spearling — especially the latter, 

 will the most readily allure him. This method of fishing, second 

 only to the use of the fly, is the most exciting, as it requires 

 finer tackle, and consequently calls forth far more skill, than the 

 ordinary modes of fishing for him at the bottom. 



For boat fishing, a strong ash or hickory, and lance-wood, rod, 

 with patent guides and the new agate funnel-top, which can be 

 procured at Conroy's, and is one of the most perfect improve- 

 ments of the day, with a Salmon-reel and tAvo hundred yards of 

 sUk or grass line, will be found the best ; of course, for Salmon 



