Popular Bottom Fresh= Water Fish 



pound. In coloration it rivals the gayly tinted 

 fishes of the coral reefs in tropical seas. It is 



well armed with a fierce array of spines, 

 Names 8 an< ^ snows a temper, especially after 



nest building, unusual in small-sized 

 fishes; consequently they thrive and multiply al- 

 most beyond belief in ponds and streams too 

 small for bass, and too warm for trout. It pre- 

 fers clear and still water, living in and about weeds 

 and grasses. Sunfish are gamy and eager biters, 

 and earthworms are their delight; they will rise 

 readily to a very small artificial fly, with a vim and 

 dash much in the manner of the black bass, their 

 bold and larger cousins. Like the perch, any 

 old tackle will catch them at times, but if proper 

 angling oufit is used, larger fish, and more gamy 

 fish are caught. 



A regular eight-foot bamboo rod should be used, 

 not too pliable or too stiff; such a rod covers the 

 wants of all fresh- water bottom-living fish, but the 



' 'sunny ' ' needs finer tackle than the perch . 



The size of hooks should be from 8 to 10, 



and the float should be small, for the fish takes 



the bait with such a snap, running away at a 



clipping pace, keeping the float on the move all 



the time. Adjust the float so that the bait hangs 



a foot from the bottom. Place two or three No. 



8 split shots about six inches apart from the 



snell, to sink the bait. Have the worms 



small and of a pinkish color, putting only 



one worm on the hook, and be very careful to 



loop it over the shank, leaving a small end to wig- 



87 



