124 PRACTICAL BAIT CASTING 



two-thirds of all tackle made in this country is black 

 bass tackle. 



The fact that the black bass is the game fish of 

 the people is due to his adaptability. He thrives, one 

 variety or the other, in practically any kind of water, 

 and in spite of the fact that he can not be propagated 

 artificially, he is now found in every state of the Union, 

 in nearly all parts of Canada, and in many places in 

 Europe. He prospers under conditions that would be 

 impossible for other game fishes. If absolute fearless- 

 ness in attacking living, or seemingly living, objects 

 that move on or beneath the surface of the water con- 

 stitutes gameness, then the black bass has no rival as 

 a game fish. 



The black bass family is divided into two varieties, 

 the small mouth (Micropterous Dolomieu), and the 

 large mouth (Micropterous Salmoides). 



The former is the more aristocratic, thriving best 

 in cool waters with gravelly or rocky bottom and run- 

 ning streams and feeds mostly on crawfish and min- 

 nows. The large mouth is not so particular and is 

 more often found in warmer, weedier spots, such as 

 shallow lakes, slow streams, and ponds. Naturally 

 he feeds on the food common to such places like frogs, 

 warm water minnows, and small crustaceans. 



Some anglers seem to have difficulty in distinguish- 

 ing the two varieties, although no trouble should be had 

 in identifying them when the differences are under- 

 stood. As their names suggest, the principal differ- 

 ence is in the size of the mouth. In the large mouth 



