NIGHT BAIT-CASTING 



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Nearly every fisherman develops a case of buck 

 fever, or " nerves," when he lands his first musky, 

 especially if the musky be a large-sized one. While 

 fishing last summer with a pal who had never landed 

 a musky, but who had brought many bass to net, he 

 hooked his first musky, played him coolly and with 

 skill until the musky broke water close up to the 

 boat, and then when he lamped the size of the fish 

 and the sardonic smile wrinkling the old villain's 

 mouth, which had an enormous spread, this old-time 

 basser went to pieces with as nice a case of " nerves " 

 as you'll find in a day's paddle. 



The old scout's sole desire was to derrick that 

 musky right into the boat. He had an awful night- 

 mare that this great, big whopper would get away, 

 and I had to beg and entreat him to give and take 

 line with the whims of the musky and use his won- 

 derful skill in playing the fish. After the " shot of 

 grace " ended the fight, my pal said he had an un- 

 conquerable desire to yank that musky in by main 

 force and an overwhelming fear that he would get 

 away. At the same time he was shaking like a 

 horse with the heaves, and the beads of cold perspi- 

 ration were oozing out on his fevered brow. 



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