THE BEIXHAM METHOD. 73 



There is only one other method of catching bass of interest 

 to the angler with which I am acquainted, and I only know 

 of it by repute. It is followed, I believe, ofE Brixham. The 

 tackle consists of a long, stout, unleaded line, and a No. 3 

 or 4 Exeter Round bend hook, attached to a short piece of 

 strong snooding. The other end of the snooding is attached 

 to the eye of a baiting-needle, by means of which it is put in 

 at the mouth of the bait (any small fish 5in. or Gin. in length) 

 and out at its tail. The tail has a turn of thread put round 

 it, to keep the bait from slipping up the line; the snooding 

 is attached to the main line, and the tackle is ready. Pro- 

 fessionals fish with five or six of these lines, mooring their 

 boats across the tide, at some spot where they expect to 

 meet with bass. The baits are thrown out, fall by their own 

 weight to the bottom, and lie there until taken by the fish. 

 The method is very similar to trolling with the gorge-bait in 

 fresh water for jack, and I have no doubt that ordinary 

 trolling might be practised in the sea with success. The 

 hooks should, however, project much farther from the gills 

 of the bait than is usual in jack fishing. 



Should the angler feel puzzled with so many different 

 methods to choose from, I would say, first let him study the 

 habits of the fish, and, aided by information from local 

 people, form some idea of the most likely spots on the coast 

 to find them. Having determined this point to his satis- 

 faction, let him consider which plan will enable him, in the 

 most simple manner, to place the bait before the eyes of the 

 bass. If he has a boat at his disposal, and can see the fish 

 sporting in the surf, he will probably try fly fishing. If he 

 fishes from a pier, he may also fly-fish if the bass are visible, 

 paternostering, spinning, or live-baiting if they are feeding on 

 the bottom or in mid- water. 



I have treated the subject of bass fishing at length, and in 

 detail, not only because the fish offers an exceptional amount 

 of sport to the angler, but also because several of the 

 methods described are followed in angling for other varieties 

 of fish, and will be referred to hereafter. 



