168 CASTING TACKLE AND METHODS 



spite of the angler's best efforts. The rodster has 

 his capture at a manifest disadvantage when he turns 

 Sir Bass into the net as Nature planned that he 

 should swim. It seems a little thing but like many 

 little things is of tremendous importance. Perhaps 

 it would not be out of place to say once more that the 

 fish should be thoroughly exhausted before an 

 attempt is made to use the net, a modicum of strength 

 remaining to the fish at the last moment is often the 

 angler's undoing. Never be in a hurry to- use the 

 landing tools. Why not enjoy the game to the limit, 

 anyway? Unless you are fishing for something to 

 eat simply there is no need for hurry; you certainly 

 are not trying to catch more bass than John Smith, 

 you are too good and true a sportsman for that 

 unethical proceeding, I am sure. 



There are times when the bass enthusiast will find 

 himself sans net, sans gaff, sans everything: what 

 then? He will play the fish until it is weary, then 

 play it until exhausted, then play it still more; when 

 certain there is not an atom of strength remaining 

 he will lead his capture close up to the boat, reach 

 down carefully, slip his fingers in its gills and lift it 

 gently into the boat. It can be done. The trick is 

 not at all difficult. Strange as it may seem, once you 

 have your fingers in Sir Bronze-back's gills he loses 

 all power of flopping, or seems to. This is a point 

 to remember when you have a badly hooked fish, 



