THE BASSES: FRES H-W ATER AND MARINE 



Skittering 



" Skittering " is an abominable, fatiguing, and 

 (except in skilled hands) uncertain method used by 

 residents in the vicinity of lakes in the northwest- 

 ern part of the Middle States, and in some of the 

 Southern States, for catching the large-mouthed 

 bass. It consists in using a pole from twelve to 

 twenty feet long, having a line somewhat longer 

 than the pole tied to its tip. The fisherman stands 

 in the bow of the boat and switches the line and bait 

 (usually a frog) to and fro, particularly among the 

 lily-pads or other vegetation along the shores. As 

 the line is usually somewhat longer than the pole, 

 it takes an expert to boat the bass when hooked. 



When fishing with crayfish for bait, the angler 

 will be greatly pestered, if not careful, by its crawl- 

 ing under logs or into any crevices it may find. 

 Some fishermen try to prevent this by breaking off 

 one of its claws, but this is merely a partial remedy. 

 Others, with greater success and comfort, keep the 

 crustacean well in hand by lifting it an inch or two 

 from the bottom every minute or so. In hooking 

 a crayfish run the hook in under the tail and bring 

 the barb out through the back. The bass always 

 takes the crayfish tail first, but it is best to allow 

 him several moments to swallow it before striking; 

 in fact this rule is a good one when fishing with 



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