316 FISHING WITH THE FLT. 



of cavalli and ravallia. Long Boat Inlet, an entrance to 

 this bay, must not be overlooked. 



Many points in Charlotte Harbor offer inducements 

 to the fly-fisher. If he tires of using the split bamboo, 

 he can troll with a spinner and land large channel bass 

 and cavalli ; for divertisement he can seat himself in an 

 arm chair on the dock at Punta Rassa and imitate my 

 friend Matthew Quay (late Secretary of State of Pennsyl- 

 vania), who landed fifty-six large sheepshead in one hour. 

 If dissatisfied with this description of sport the pi scator 

 can indulge in the capture of Jew-fish, weighing from 

 one to three hundred pounds. On the Calloosahatchee, 

 above the islands, the fly caster can be satiated with 

 sport in landing large-sized cavalli. From Charlotte 

 Harbor southward every entrance, bay, pass and lagoon 

 will afford royal sport. 



Delicate mist-colored leaders are not a necessity, for 

 Florida fish have not been educated or posted with 

 regard to the tricks of the craft. They seem to recog- 

 nize but little difference between a single strand of gut 

 and a clothes-line. The main things requisite are strong 

 leaders and large-sized hooks, for when fish are so plen- 

 tiful and valueless the fisherman is apt to try and see how 

 many he can land within a given period. With regard 

 to flies, almost any of the more common ones will an- 

 swer a good purpose. My choice for channel bass, ca- 

 valli, sea trout and bone fish is a large-sized gaudy fly 

 with a large-sized hook. 



To reach the south-west coast persons can go direct 



