CASTING AFTER DARK 219 



The coming of the stars marks the beginning of 

 sport on many a so-called "fished out" water. 



I am inclined to think, in fact, I am positive that 

 "the dark o' the moon" is the best time of the month 

 in which to resort to night fishing. Bass may be 

 taken on a bright moonlight night, when the fishing 

 is comparatively easy, for the angler can see without 

 the aid of an artificial light, though always the flash 

 should be kept in a convenient and get-at-able place. 

 Even with the aid of a full moon, the untangling of 

 a back-lash may be a serious matter. Upon the 

 other hand, a pitch black night is more apt to pre- 

 sent the faithful angler with a record fish. I like 

 to see the stars stars in the sky and stars in the 

 water but experience has taught me that the dream 

 bass, the one fish those so large that it takes two 

 men to tell about them feed on the blackest nights, 

 feed where the quiet night fisherman may reach 

 them with a cast lure, an impossibility in broad day. 

 If you doubt the assertion that big fish feed after 

 night-fall, simply push out on your favorite lake 

 about 10 or n o'clock and sit perfectly still. If 

 you do not think that some Titan is throwing logs 

 into the water, I will miss my guess. That "there 

 are bigger fish in the lake than have ever been 

 caught" is something more than a time-worn 

 aphorism. 



I have been writing on lake fishing, for night 

 casting is peculiarly a lake sport, though I presume 



