Striped Bass Fishing 



a fresh bait, or for any other purpose, will 

 be the cause. Dear reader, if you aspire 

 to be a bass fisherman, religiously examine 

 your reel before casting, always and in 

 every case ; and unless you see and know 

 that it lies firmly and regularly on the 

 reel, never hesitate, but at once unreel it 

 and lay it on carefully, and thus you will 

 save yourself many an impatient word and 

 action. 



At last we have a beautiful cast ; the 

 bait has shot out at least 150 feet, and 

 fallen gently into the water ; the slack has 

 been gathered in, so that you feel the bait, 

 and know that each movement of the reel 

 moves it slightly ; and now comes in the 

 trait of a true fisherman, patience. That 

 kind of patience which does not lose heart, 

 even though, for days in succession, bait 

 after bait is cast out without return, until 

 the fisherman feels as if he is only feeding 

 blackfish and " cunners," with which the 

 water abounds, and which will eat off the 

 bait sometimes before it is fairly settled in 

 the water. Our chances this afternoon 

 are rather slim, still there is a freshening 

 southwest breeze blowing from Gay Head, 

 and the swash of the surf begins to be 

 heavier ; but on looking over the side of 

 the stand, the bottom, with its folds and 



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