SHORE CASTING 203 



clear, toss the lure upon it, wait for things to quiet 

 down, then "hop" it into the water. When casting, 

 keep in the shade, eliminate yourself as much as pos- 

 sible, it is more important than some think. Nat- 

 urally, upon a river of some width, the rodster can 

 cast into the shade on the far side with good results, 

 but keep out of sight as much as possible. 



It is hardly necessary, as it is not expedient to 

 enlarge overly much upon the playing and netting of 

 the fish, so much depends upon local characteristics. 

 I have said my say in the chapter upon the subject, 

 here referring my interested and curious readers to 

 those pages. However, I must insist that the bank- 

 caster study the lay of the land before he sends his 

 lure adventuring out upon the water; after a little 

 experience he can plan an ichthyic "battle with a 

 single glance, know absolutely what he is going to 

 do if the bass does what he thinks it will. I demand 

 that the printer put those words in italics, full 

 capitals would be none too impressive. It is that 

 one element of chance which forever menaces the 

 rodster with unknown possibilities. Just the same, 

 the mental processes' a Pickwickianism, if you 

 please of the average bass are about the same. 

 After much experience the shorecaster can gener- 

 ally prognosticate with considerable assurance as to 

 what a bass will do, though he may not do it. 

 Would the fisherman have it otherwise if he could? 



