i 4 2 THE FINE ART OF FISHING 



lily pads and along the margin of the aquatic vegeta- 

 tion of the lake, and also over and along rocky or sandy 

 bars, about spring-holes, at the inlet or outlet of the 

 lake, and other similar places where the black bass 

 "uses." 



Necessary items in the outfit not mentioned above 



are a small tackle box and a landing net. The latter 



will save many large bass which would 



*T VJ r otherwise be lost by bungling attempts 



to get them into the boat a six-ounce 



fly-rod is a mighty poor tool with which to "derrick" 



a four-pound bass. 



A modification of strip-casting or possibly fly-cast- 

 ing, as it is difficult to determine which method is most 

 closely approximated exists in the use 

 A Variation O f sm all, light fly-spoons in connection 

 of Strip- . h single . hook bass flies ( these fly . 

 casting. . 



spoons are practically the same as those 



mentioned for use in strip-casting, but the smallest sizes 

 should be used) on ordinary fly-casting tackle. 



In running water fly-casting for black bass is on a 

 par, both as a sport and as regards its practicality, with 

 fly-fishing for brook trout. Both the small- and large- 

 mouth bass rise freely to the artificial fly when it is 

 properly presented and under the right conditions, the 

 large-mouth having the reputation of being generally 

 the most willing to inspect the feathers. But the right 

 conditions for bass fly-fishing unfortunately do not 

 prevail in many parts of the country, running water of 

 the proper depth for fly-casting and wading wherein 

 bass, either large- or small-mouthed, exist in sufficient 



