Popular Bottom Fresh=Water Fish 



sport may be had, because the fisli wiggles in all 

 kinds of holes, and no amount of tugging will 

 loosen him; for that reason both line and gut 

 leader should be stout and strong. A float may 

 be attached to the line to keep the bait out of 

 and between weed patches. Use No. 7 or 8 

 hooks, baited with a small red worm, which 

 . should be allowed to drag and lie at the 

 bottom. Worms, if alive, are more at- 

 tractive to eels than anything else, both in pond 

 and river fishing. The eel requires considerable 

 indulgence when it takes the bait; as soon as it 

 is pulled out of the water, stamp the foot across 

 its body, holding the line tight with one hand 

 and with the other cutting through its gills with 

 a sharp knife, taking care not to cut the gut snell 

 which is always some distance down its throat. 

 This is the most humane and quickest method 

 to prevent the slippery rascal from tying the line 

 full of knots, and very often breaking the line and 

 so getting away. Good eel fishing is best near 

 dams and mill wheels. To one sitting on the bank 

 at evening, properly prepared with bait and tackle, 

 and a small lantern, this fish provides quite a 

 diversion. Eel fishing in salt water is also very 



popular when it is done from a boat. 

 Eels ^^ ^^ which should be anchored near the 



edge of channels on soft and sandy, 

 or muddy bottoms. Use a simple, stout hand line 

 with a strong leader and heavy sinker, to keep 

 the bait on the bottom. Eels will not rise from 

 the bottom for their food, so it is necessary to 

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