deep water and fish in towards the shallows or 

 feeding grounds, as the boat being in the deeper 

 water is not so conspicuous to the h'sh in the shal- 

 lows. When a bass is hooked, I always work to- 

 ward deep water, so as to play the fish freely and 

 avoid snags, rocks, weeds, etc. 



If fishing from a bank, I get as near the level of 

 the water as possible, and when' a fish is hooked, I 

 head at once to the deepest water practicable. 



I find it a good plan to let the bass have the bait 

 from two to ten seconds, according to the way he 

 takes it; then strike at once, giving him line freely, 

 but keeping the thumb on the reel as a drag. 

 Click reels are an abomination. I never jerk the 

 rod, but hook with a twist of the wrist, remember- 

 ing the golden rule that from the moment a bass 

 takes the bait until he is landed the line 'must 

 be kept tight, as one second of slack line will lose 

 him. The point of the rod I keep bent by the pull 

 of the fish, which is made to fight for every inch of 

 line. I reel in whenever practicable and kil 

 the fish on the line. 



I never let a fish get among the weeds ; I coax 

 him off if possible, but if this is not practicable, 

 I give him the butt, and either get him away or break 

 the pole, which is preferable to losing the fish by 

 weeds or snags. When thoroughly exhausted, I 

 land him, of course, but am never in a hurry. If 

 a pole net be used I sink it under him and gently 

 lift it until the fish falls into it. 



In order to appreciate black bass fishing to the 



