GENERAL SWEET-WATER TACKLE 133 



No need to use a very expensive line for bait-fish- 

 ing, and it should be of smaller caliber than for fly- 

 casting. Twenty-five yards of size G " oiled silk " 

 line will fill the bill. However, an enameled line, al- 

 though not necessary, is less liable to whip around the 

 rod and for this reason will give better satisfaction. 



For average worm-fishing a supply of Sproat hooks 

 from No. 5, no larger, to No. 8, on gut snells, should 

 be laid in. 



While, perhaps, it is more than a mere matter of 

 taste, many experienced trout fishermen do not employ 

 leaders when worm-fishing. For surface bait-fishing, 

 with low and clear water a good time for dry flies 

 and midges it seems that leaders are preferable. 

 Three-foot leaders are long enough. 



Choice of lead lies between ringed sinkers and split- 

 shot. The former are easier to put on and take off. 

 The best style of bait-box is crescent-shaped and worn 

 on a belt. In all other particulars the tackle is the 

 same as for trout fly-fishing. 



Unfortunately, reliable bass fly-fishing is rather dif- 

 ficult to find. This, it should be said, is through no 

 fault of the black bass, but, rather, be- 

 cause most bass waters are more adapted S /V '" 

 to bait-casting and other forms of bait- 

 fishing with artificial and natural baits than to fly- 

 fishing. For this reason, except in certain favored 

 localities where stream fly-fishing for bass is done in 

 much the same way as one wades a trout stream, the 



