202 CASTING TACKLE AND METHODS 



out from the far side. A stream 50 to 100 feet wide 

 will best be fished across-water. All that has been 

 said about lurking places holds true whether fishing 

 "in" or "out," of course. To fish the far bank the 

 rodster must have sufficient room for the back-cast 

 and the overhead-swing. Casting above obstructions 

 and waiting for the lure to swing down into fishy 

 territory, watching the while for out-reaching snags. 

 The unacquainted can not realize how fascinating is 

 the sport, accuracy and distance playing an important 

 part in the game. As a rule the angler will have 

 greater success fishing in the current when it bathes 

 the distant bank. If the shore permits, let the lure 

 strike against the bank and tumble into the water, a 

 trick the small-mouth will "fall for" every time. If 

 the shore be grassy, the wise rodster will slam the 

 lure close up against the green fringe, the greater 

 the commotion made the better. Often a river pick- 

 erel or pike will find the lure attractive, striking vin- 

 dictively, perhaps to the angler's disgust though pick- 

 erel even are good to practice upon. Personally I am 

 not a hater of the pike family, either in the water or 

 pan. If the far bank slopes in a mud flat to the 

 water's edge, it may be possible to toss the plug upon 

 the mud and gently pull it down and into the water 

 without noise or commotion. While a bass is usually 

 attracted by a "splutter-budget" style of casting, 

 there are days along small rivers when quietness 

 seems to appeal more strongly. If the far bank is 



