58 The Angler's Secret 



is the fact that they will not resort to 

 the correct tackle and methods of the 

 real angler. They "can't see any sport 

 in catching little fish on whip-like rods." 

 They do not reflect that some of the 

 largest species are caught on these little 

 rods, that the men who affect these light 

 outfits can and do catch both big and 

 little fishes, and that the unpractical 

 class seldom catch any sort of fish. 



I have seen half a hundred hand-line 

 fishermen and as many three-pound-pole 

 fishermen trying for snapper bluefish all 

 day with but the poorest results, while 

 right in their midst a single practical 

 rodster who knew but little of the sport 

 and species having followed fresh-water 

 play all his life had "first best sport," 

 as Tom Draw would say. 



The place : Jamaica Bay, Long Island, 

 New York. The time : September. 



I tpok my friend to Goose Creek, and 

 the first day he only flailed his beautiful 

 tackle in experiment. He caught but few 



