196 CASTING TACKLE AND METHODS 



casting simply to kill time, while the people who be- 

 held 'me smiled commiseratingly. But one day, a 

 mighty swirl below an up-turned stump sent my heart 

 into my throat, and as a result I set myself assidu- 

 ously to the work. I mastered the problem. Day after 

 day I wandered up and down the banks of the little 

 stream, casting into every likely looking hole. I did 

 not take a fish at every cast, far from it, three or 

 four a day only. But such fish ! Evidently the bass 

 had been putting on avoirdupois ever since the last 

 patriarch had surrendered his cane pole and pork 

 rind bait, putting on avoirdupois while waiting for a 

 man of faith and leisure, provided with modern 

 plugs. I often wonder about that river, if any one 

 fishes it now; if so, what success they have. Well, 

 this is the point: there is a field for the shore caster 

 in unexpected quarters. Perhaps Fate has some- 

 thing up her sleeve for you. 



Nothing need be said about special tackle for this 

 variety of angling; the regular rod and reel, your 

 favorites, will prove all that can be desired. The 

 lures also need no comment, though I would urge the 

 caster to specialize in surface and surface-underwater 

 types, not forgetting one or two good underwaters 

 for the occasional deep hole. Of course all will 

 depend upon the particular river. 'A broad and deep 

 stream will admit of almost any lure, while the shal- 

 low and narrow "creeks" will preclude all but 

 floaters. Local conditions will govern the character 



