BAIT-CASTER AND BASSES 87 



the fish in the weeds. Here the situation offers only a 

 choice of evils, and the balance of advantage is probably 

 on the side of fast reeling. A bass can imbed himself 

 in a mass of weeds in an unappreciable moment, and 

 you will then often lose not only fish but tackle. As a 

 general rule, however, avoid trying to lead a big fish 

 until he shows an inclination for being led. 



It sometimes happens, although rarely, that a bass 

 will follow the bait until it is almost up to the boat 

 before he strikes it. This is a situation productive of 

 several different kinds of disasters, unless the angler 

 keeps his wits about him. If the rod is perpendicular, 

 or nearly so, at the moment the bass strikes, a smashed 

 tip is liable to result if any attempt is made to set the 

 hook. The chances are that the bass has hooked him- 

 self and he should be slacked instead of struck and only 

 slightly restrained until he is in a position where he can 

 be played advantageously. 



Naturally it is impossible to state any invariable rule 

 as to how, when, or where a bass will strike. Individ- 

 ual fish act differently under like circumstances and 

 bass in different waters vary much in habits. As in 

 trout fly-fishing it is the often unexpected manner in 

 which the bass makes known his presence that affords 

 one of the principal attractions of the sport. 



When the Bloom is Off the Water 



Other things being equal, the question of when to 

 go is quite as important to the sportsman, especially the 

 angler, as the question of where to go. No matter how 

 well the sportsman may be outfitted in the matter of 



