PLAYING THE BASS. 67 



sudden tightening of the line, is seen, or a pluck at the top of 

 the rod felt, the angler should strike, and then look out for 

 squalls. The fish, if a large one, will probably at once run 

 out several yards of line, and in this first endeavour to get 

 free he should not be checked. As he slackens speed, the 

 finger should be placed on the reel, and more strain put 

 on him, and, as soon as possible, some line wound in. Suc- 

 cessive runs, longer or shorter than the first, follow, until the 

 fish, thoroughly exhausted, is brought up to the side of the 

 boat, the landing-net placed under him, and the angler has 

 killed his first bass. 



There are some other points connected with fly fishing for 

 bass which are worthy of notice. The boat should never be 

 rowed through a school of these fish, for they are somewhat 

 shy, and, unless the boat is kept at some distance, very few 

 will be caught on the surface. When flaying round pier- 

 heads, bass often take the fly ; and the shore fisher sometimes 

 meets with success off quays, rocky headlands, and points of 

 land at the mouths of rivers. He requires a heavy line to 

 throw out against the wind. The best fishing is, however, 

 usually obtained from a boat. In harbours, bass when hooked 

 often make for old piles and stumps, from which they should 

 be kept, so far as lies in the angler's power. 



It should be remembered that bass, like trout, rarely take 

 a fly unless there is a ripple on the water, and on calm days 

 they should be fished for with live sand-eels or smelts. A strip 

 of skin cut from the belly of the mackerel or bass, one end 

 of which is lashed on to the shank of the hook, is sometimes 

 cast like a fly, and is undoubtedly a good bait. As bass run 

 very large, and are exceedingly strong, I look upon the use 

 of two flies as a great mistake. Two flies do not catch more 

 fish, and they may cause the loss of the best fish of the day. 

 On very rough days, a large fly may be used; and when the 

 ripple is slight, a small Shaldon Shiner will sometimes 

 catch bass when everything else fails. In fishing narrow 

 channels, where the tide runs strongly, on days when the bass 

 do not show themselves, it is sometimes a good plan to let 

 out about 40yds. of line, with a fly or a piece of mackerel - 



F 2 



