Bait Angling for Common Fishes 



eties of superior game fishes, the perch and 

 sunfish excepted. These are only safe be- 

 cause they are protected by their sharp 

 spines, which can be erected at will to de- 

 fend themselves. 



The pickerel loves to lie in summer, on 

 warm days, among the lily pads and weeds, 

 generally near the shore; there he stays 

 quiet as a stone with his long nose just 

 peeping out, watching for his prey. Their 

 growth is rapid, and their ravenous dispo- 

 sition causes them to be favorites with many 

 anglers, since they bite vigorously at almost 

 any bait of live fish or spoon, and boldly 

 resent capture in a manner which only 

 strong tackle can withstand. 



While feeding he has two places of van- 

 tage, one is in from eight to ten feet of 

 water where the bottom curves up sharply 

 toward the bank. Here he lies close to the 

 bottom, and strikes in at any small fish that 

 passes near the shore; the other place is 

 in the weeds, out of which he springs like 

 lightning, keeping his jaws closed tightly 



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