1/2 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



hooks, notwithstanding their inefficiency and poor quality. 



The best hooks are always black or japanned those of an 

 inferior quality are always blued or bright. 



The hook should be tied on a gut-snell for stream or lake 

 fishing, but a gimp-snell may be used wherever Pike or Pick- 

 erel abound, as a matter of economy only. 



Casting. The angler, then, being rigged with rod, reel 

 and line, affixes a small brass swivel to the end of the line, 

 and to the other end of the swivel loops on a snelled Sproat 

 hook, which he passes through the lips of a lively "shiner," 

 and is ready for business or pleasure. 



To make a cast he reels up the line until the minnow hangs 

 but a foot or two below the tip of the rod; then, with his 

 thumb on the spool of the reel, he makes a quartering cast, 

 toward his right or left front, keeping a gentle pressure of 

 his thumb on the rapidly revolving spool (to prevent over- 

 running), and as the minnow reaches the water, twenty or 

 even forty yards away, he stops the reel by a stronger press- 

 ure of the thumb. 



Then, after permitting the minnow to swim about at its 

 own sweet will for a few seconds, he reels it slowly toward 

 him, and prepares for another cast in the same, or another, 

 direction. The casts are to be made toward the same 

 grounds or locations as mentioned in fly-fishing, though the 

 minnow can be cast farther than the fly, and the chances for 

 fish are, consequently, greater. The artificial minnow, or a 

 small spoon, may be cast in the same manner in swift, bro- 

 ken water, especially about riffles and below mill-dams, with 

 good results. 



Playing. When the Bass takes the minnow, the angler 

 should keep his thumb on the reel and allow the fish to run 

 a few seconds with the bait, and then stop the reel by a 

 firmer pressure of the thumb, when, if the fish gives a few 

 short tugs or jerks, he should be permitted to take a little 

 more line, and the reel again stopped; then, if the Bass pulls 



