How to Get Them 



HOW TO CAST WITH LIVE BAIT AND 

 ARTIFICIAL LURES 



Doubtless nine-tenths of the bass fishermen fish 

 with bait, artificial or natural ; and next to fly fish- 

 ing, casting the minnow is the most artistic mode 

 of angling for the black bass. I shall not attempt 

 to describe its methods, but readers are advised 

 to study the chapter on it, written by Dr. Hen- 

 shall in his "Black Bass" book. His treatment 

 of it is ample and sufficient. A few brief words 

 with one or two practical lessons on the stream 

 will help the novice to understand its main idea. 

 The angler stands on the bank of a 



Citing f stream or lake or in a boat with a 

 rod about eight feet in length, which 



is held, tip down, three or four feet from the 

 body, either to the right or to the left; then 

 with an upward swoop it is brought to about the 

 height of the head, with the tip pointing in the 

 direction of a rising bass, or where one is sup- 

 posed, or hoped to be, the line running free from 

 the reel until just a moment before the lure strikes 

 the water, when it is stopped by the thumb of the 

 angler. The tackle used is quite different 

 from that used in casting the fly, the rod 

 being eight feet long and rather stiff, with well 

 made guides instead of rings. The reel of the best 

 make should run as easily and smoothly as pos- 

 sible, and multiply from two to four times. The 

 reel line most suited is the smallest size, H or No. 6, 

 169 



