OUTDOORS 



boatman. If the frog is a large one, more 

 time should be given the bass to swallow it, 

 and the fisherman should never "strike" to 

 hook a bass when the fish first takes the frog. 



A good boatman is a prime requisite in 

 bait-casting. Sometimes a man can go out 

 alone and drift or anchor his boat and cast 

 and get bass, but this is an unsatisfactory 

 way. It gives only a limited space to work 

 in. A good oarsman responds to the exigen- 

 cies of the situation, watches the rushes of the 

 fish and swings the boat, tacks it or rows 

 ahead, as the nature of the case demands. 



A rod with a stiffer tip is used in casting 

 than in still fishing, and extra tips should al- 

 ways be carried. Lancewood rods, split bam- 

 boo, bethabara, and even steel rods are used 

 by some of the experts. A good green-heart 

 or lancewood casting-rod is very serviceable. 

 The hooks should be regulation bass hooks, 

 with either single- or double-gut leaders. 

 Lines may be of linen, braided oil-silk, raw 

 silk, or enamelled water-proof silk. A round 

 braided silk line gives the best results. A 

 tackle-box and a minnow-pail are also re- 

 quired. It is as well to take a frying-pan 

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