TERMINAL TACKLE 85 



hook an unusually heavy fish, like the southern bass 

 or northern pike; H, for all ordinary bass fishing; 

 indeed, with the latter size a skillful angler may land 

 almost any fish. G should test in the neighborhood 

 of 20 pounds, and H about 16. As sizes vary and 

 some makers use numbers instead of letters, ordi- 

 narily it is a good idea to mention strength required 

 when ordering. Most makers issue a sample card, 

 showing colors, sizes and strength. Before you 

 order, after you have determined what particular 

 make you desire, send for a card of samples. Do 

 not wait until the night before you start on your 

 trip, then rush down to the tackle store and purchase 

 "any old thing" the dealer happens to have in stock; 

 your portion will be that of the man who marries in 

 haste. Get a good line. 



I honestly do not believe the question of color a 

 matter of great importance in bass-casting; the fish 

 does not wait to look at the line, once the lure comes 

 crashing down upon the water. In bait-fishing, I 

 mean still-fishing with live bait, I desire a line as 

 near the color of the water as it is possible for a man 

 to secure ; there I have found that a conspicuous line 

 has a tendency to frighten feeding fish. In bait- 

 casting it is the splash of the lure which attracts the 

 fish, the lure speeds away at the end of the line, 

 therefore the fish has little opportunity to be 

 frightened by it. My experiments have convinced 

 me that size is a more important matter than color. 



