144 FAMILIAR FISH, THEIR HABITS AND CAPTURE 



the snell and the line, as the minnow is constantly turn- 

 ing and twists the line badly. Of course, where 

 practicable, one can still fish from the shore or a boat 

 with any of the baits mentioned for small-mouth bass, 

 good catches being often made. Large-mouth bass 

 are not looked upon with as much favor as the small- 

 mouth variety. As already stated, they fight just as 

 hard for a short time, but do not keep it up, as does 

 their relative. Neither are they considered equal as 

 a table fish. They seem to taste, and almost to smell, 

 of the bottom from which they are taken. 



Strawberry bass afford unlimited sport during the 

 season when they are biting well. They are gen- 

 erally found in large schools, but as they are constant- 

 ly moving around, they must be followed about in a 

 boat. In fishing near bridge abutments and old piers 

 for black bass, the strawberry bass is often taken. 

 It has a very small mouth, as the illustration shows, 

 consequently small hooks and very small minnows 

 must be used for bait. A No. 5 sproat hook is the 

 best size and kind. 



No one desires to catch rock bass, but, unfortu- 

 nately, as we have seen, they bite, and often get 

 caught. It is therefore not necessary to advise how 

 to catch them. 



White bass, or, as they are otherwise known, striped 

 or silver bass, are only caught by chance, and there- 



