FISHES OF THE WEST. 



PERCID.E. 



Black Bass. — Micropterus nigricans. Gill- 



WE believe that this is the only variety of black bass in the 

 western waters, the M. salmoides not appearing. [For 

 description see Northern Inland Fishes.] This fish is eminently 

 the game fish^ar excellence of western waters, and is there angled 

 for with an ardor and a keen perception of the savoir faire not 

 recognized at the east. Not only in knowledge of his habits, in 

 skillful handling of the fish, but in the use of tackle and methods 

 of fishing, do the anglers of the west excel. They wade from 

 shore out upon the sand bars, fishing with fly or bait ; they troll 

 with the spoon or m.innow ; they still-fish from boat and bank ; 

 and indeed use every device imaginable to lure the fish and increase 

 their sport. In the latter part of the season, wading the bars is 

 much in vogue. Dr. Estes says : " I much prefer to fish with the 

 fly from the shore or by wading the bars. I make my own flies, 

 of which I have a great variety. Bass are not as particular in their 

 selection as trout. I do not remember that I ever tried a fly that 

 bass would not take. ' If the waters are very clear, most any brown 

 or even very dark fly will answer. If the water is turbid, or the 

 waves very high, I then prefer a more gaudy fly. I use my trout 

 bait rod ; it is of the very best timber, light, but very springy. I 

 rig my cast precisely as for trout, except my leader is made of the 

 largest and strongest gut, always using three flies to a cast. Well 

 supplied with a good number and variety of flies, with plenty of 

 other extra tackle, and also a strong cord six or eight feet long, on 

 which to string my fish, I commence business by casting right, 

 left and ahead over the bars. Sometimes these bars are of great 

 extent, and will give one some wading before he finds his fish. 

 But the bottom is clean hard packed sand, so that the wading is 



