FLY-CASTING FOR BASS 77 



can be waded makes about the best kind of bass 

 water for the use of the fly. The shallow pools 

 above and below riffles or rapids is a likely spot for 

 the hungry bass as well as the eddies along the sides 

 of rapids. Cast into the swirl of water as it passes 

 around a bowlder, and off the edge of the windfalls, 

 logs and brush heaps, all of which locations are 

 generally the loafing place of a fine old bass. 



In lake fishing with the fly the bright, sunny day is 

 not for you. The bass rise to the fly particularly on 

 a day when the surface is broken by a slight breeze, 

 and the best time for casting is in the early morning 

 and late in the evening. From sunset to dark is the 

 best time when the day has been bright in fact, 

 most any day. On the lake cast your fly inshore on 

 the bars and shallows or ledges and off the edges of 

 lily pads, rushes and weed beds, as well as alongside 

 the half-submerged logs and windfalls along shore. 

 The fly should be allowed to sink considerably and a 

 slightly jerky crawl given to it when working in the 

 line. This is done to fool the bass into believing 

 the object of the fly-maker's art is a struggling insect 

 trying to get out of the wet. Whether it fools 'em 

 or not is something I don't know, but I think they 

 strike it out of curiosity more than anything else. I 

 have seen the greenest beginner take a whirl at toss- 

 ing the feathery morsels and by using care and judg- 

 ment in the approach, land some fine bass, although 

 at the time he did not know what motions the fly 



