Black Bass Fishing. 385 



While the Professor and Ignatius proceeded down the river, Luke 

 rigged up a stout line the length of his big cane pole, a large red and 

 green float, a heavy sinker, and one of the No. 3-0 sproat hooks. 

 He then turned over the stones in the creek until he obtained a dozen 

 large craw-fish, which were about to shed their outer cases, or shells, 

 and which for this reason are called "shedders," or "peelers." 



"Now, den," said he, "we'll see who'll ketch de mos' fish. 

 Umph ! I wunder wat de 'Fessor do if he hang a big chan'l cat 

 wid dat little pole ! " 



He then baited his hook with a "soft craw," seated himself on a 

 log at the edge of a deep pool, or "cat-hole," and began fishing. 



The Professor and Ignatius took their way down-stream a short 

 distance to where a submerged ledge of rocks ran nearly across the 

 river, some two feet below the surface and about ten feet in width. 

 The line of rock was shelving, or hollow underneath on the up-river 

 side, the water being some six feet deep just under and above it, 

 but shoaling gradually up-stream. The ledge was surmounted on 

 its lower edge by a line of loose rocks which cropped up nearly to the 

 surface, producing a rapid, or riffle. On the opposite side of the 

 stream the bank was quite high and steep, forming a rocky, wooded 

 cliff, where the snowy dogwood blossoms and the pink tassels of 

 the redbud lit up the dark mass of foliage which was yet in shadow; 

 for the sun was just peeping curiously over the top of the cliff, 

 and shining full in their faces — for prudent anglers always fish 

 toward the sun, so that their shadows are cast behind them. 



" Now," said the Professor, as he waded out into the stream 

 some fifty feet above the rocky ledge, " the bass have left the cool 

 depths beside the rock and are on the riffle, or just below it, en- 

 joying the welcome rays of the sun while waiting for a stray min- 

 now or craw-fish for breakfast. I'll drop them a line." 



So saying, he began casting, lengthening his line at each cast, 

 — the line, leader, and flies following the impulse of the flexible rod 

 in graceful curves, now projected forward, now unfolding behind 

 him, — until the flies, almost touching the water full seventy feet in 

 his rear, were, by a slight turn of the wrist and fore-arm and ap- 

 parently without an effort, cast a like distance in front, where they 

 dropped gently and without the least splash just on the lower 

 edge of the rift. Immediately the swirl of a bass was seen near 



