3 IS GAME FISH OF NORTH AMERICA. 



at a moderate price. As for reels, the " Frankfort reel," known 

 also as the " Meek reel," and the " Kentucky reel," are in highest 

 esteem. It is made by hand from the finest materials, and as 

 carefully and correctly in its fittings as the movement of a watch. 

 The bearings and pivots are of the finest temper, and the entire 

 reel is as perfect in workmanship, and as finely adjusted as is pos- 

 sible for skill to render it. Contrary to a current opinion, this reel 

 is not more complicated than the ordinary multiplying reel, and 

 contains but the same number of wheels, viz. two ; but by a dif- 

 ferent arrangement of the two wheels, it multiplies four times, 

 while the ordinary reel multiplies but twice ; and it runs so per- 

 fectly and smoothly that a smart stroke of the finger upon the 

 handle will cause it to make about thirty revolutions, and this 

 without a balance handle. 



They are made with or without an alarm click, or a drag or 

 rubber ; and where one or both of these adjuncts are used, it does 

 not at all complicate the working of the reel, as they are operated 

 by flat sliding buttons on the side of the reel, and are not in the 

 way in the least. The reel is, in fact, so simple and perfect in its 

 details, that it has not been improved upon since it was first in- 

 vented, twenty years ago. They are made of German silver or 

 brass, in six sizes, No. 6 being the largest — the best size for black 

 bass fishing is No. 3. 



The best line for black bass fishing is a hard braided silk line, 

 the smaller sizes being large enough. A braided linen line would 

 be still better, if it could be procured of a smaller size than is at 

 present manufactured, as they are more closely braided than the 

 silk lines, and consequently do not absorb so much water ; this 

 absorption of water interferes somewhat with the free running of 

 the line in casting. Sproat bend hooks, tied upon wire gimp, as 

 a protection against the ever annoying pickerel, are the best. 



In casting for bass with minnow, having the rod, reel and line 

 in readiness, tie on a small swivel and the smallest size ringed 

 sinker, and a Sproat bend hook. Now select a minnow four or 

 five inches in length, hook it through the lower lip and out at the 

 nostril, or as some prefer, out at the socket of the eye ; reel up the 

 line to the sinker, leaving the minnow one or two feet from the 

 tip of the rod, then grasp the rod immediately below the reel with 



