148 THE FINE ART OF FISHING 



new waters, will serve to emphasize their importance. 

 Whenever possible it is well to call in the aid of some 

 of the local talent, professional or otherwise, with a 

 view to locating the game without loss of time. The 

 black bass is a peculiar and undependable animal; even 

 in ponds closely adjacent the habits and, to a slight 

 extent, the color and formation of the bass respectively 

 therein will differ. Particularly is there liable to be 

 a difference in the kind of bait most favored. In one 

 pond nothing but the natural baits, minnows, frogs, etc., 

 will produce results; in another natural baits are of no 

 use whatever while the various artificials or, more 

 frequently, one particular artificial are at a premium. 



Quite naturally the habits of the bass in any given 

 lake are to a great extent dependent upon the character 

 of the lake itself; that is, if bass habits are dependent 

 upon anything but the own sweet will of Mr. Bass in 

 person, to which latter theory the writer is sometimes 

 strongly inclined. Thus in shallow, weedy lakes the 

 bass will be found feeding at quite different times from 

 those in deep, clear water ponds with rocky bottoms; 

 and, of course, as regards waters having these character- 

 istics, it is probable that in the shallower, weedy water 

 you will find the large-mouthed bass, and in the deeper 

 and rocky bottomed lake the small-mouth. 



Also, from season to season, in the same lake, you are 

 likely to find the old feeding grounds deserted and 

 catch pretty nearly all your bass in new places, these 

 new places being productive all through the season, while 

 other spots, to all appearances quite as good, will yield 

 nothing. All through the season, every day, you will 



