160 CASTING TACKLE AND METHODS 



slack; rod and reel must both be brought into play 

 to checkmate the latter, though he will go into the air 

 again and again in his frenzy and anger, hoping to 

 rid himself of that stinging, clinging thing fast in his 

 jaws. It is the leap of the bass that places him gills 

 and pectoral fins above any other fresh-water game 

 fish of equal size. 



There is considerable individuality about Microp- 

 terns f after all; there is no telling what any given 

 fish will do. Granted half an opportunity, he will 

 go into the air, ripping the singing line through the 

 water in a way to stir the blood of the most 

 phlegmatic, or he may go to the bottom and sulk 

 like a school-boy bereft of recess. Sometimes a sulk- 

 ing fish is something of a problem, for if he seek out 

 the depths in which to do his ruminating, it is up to 

 the angler to stir him up, not an easy task. With 

 good tackle he may be "pumped up," after the tactics 

 of salmon fishermen; simply reel the tip of the rod 

 down to the surface of the water and lift, praying 

 the while that everything will hold. In playing any 

 fish the angler should seek to keep the battle on the 

 surface; fortunately, the fish that takes the lure upon 

 the surface usually fights there. The sulking fish is 

 a dangerous one, the angler has no means of know- 

 ing what his capture is doing down there in the 

 depths, so, if possible, keep him moving. Remem- 

 ber what was said in the first paragraph of this 

 chapter. 



