STRATEGY 163 



FISHING A LAKE 



In no other branch of angling is a thorough working 

 knowledge of fish habits, water and weather condi- 

 tions so essential to success as fly fishing for bass on a 

 lake. In other words, the successful lake fly fisher 

 must know his business and be quick to take advantage 

 of favorable conditions. 



I believe that a fly fisher can catch bass on a lake 

 almost any time the bait caster who uses surface baits 

 can get fish if he is a good fisherman. The bass 

 are then feeding in the shallows or on or near the sur- 

 face and that alone is a big advantage. Bass are most 

 often found in low water early or late in the season and 

 with a little cloudy weather and a good riffle on the 

 water at these times the fly fisher has the most propi- 

 tious circumstances. In mid-season in the full glare 

 of the sun, with the lake's surface like a mill pond, 

 the conditions are most unfavorable and the wise angler 

 will then still fish, pitch horse shoes or go swimming 

 until evening. Then, protected by head net and mos- 

 quito dope, he can carefully work along the shores and 

 shallow places with some hope of success. After sun- 

 down is the best time of all for fly fishing a lake in 

 mid-summer. At other times the best hours are very 

 early or late in the day. 



The habits and preferences of the basses should not 

 be forgotten. Qne should look for small mouths on 

 the rocky ledges, on the sand or gravel bars or where 

 there are currents. If you do not know where these 



