STRIPED BASS. 213 



certainly tear off your baits, and perhaps your float and 

 sinker ; the sinker must strike the water in advance of 

 the float, or the leader is apt to hitch round the upper 

 point of the latter. 



The most scientific and truly sportsmanlike mode of 

 taking striped bass must be admitted to be with the fly ; 

 which, unfortunately, can only be done in the brackish 

 or fresh water. Like salmon, they will not take the fly 

 in the salt creeks and bays, and thus, though the sport is 

 excellent, it is confined to few localities, and those diffi- 

 cult of access. Fly-fishing may be done either with the 

 ordinary salmon rod, or in a strong current with the 

 common bass rod, by working your fly on the top of the 

 water and giving a considerable length of line. The 

 best fly is that with the scarlet ibis and white feathers 

 mixed, the same as used for black bass ; but bass may 

 be taken with any large fly, especially those of gay color. 

 Excellent sport is frequently had in this way from off 

 some open bridge, where the falling tide, mixed with the 

 fresh water, rushes furiously between the piers. 



It is generally conceded that the best time for bass 

 fishing is at night, especially if the moon be bright. 

 The most favorable wind is a southwesterly one, strong 

 enough to make a good ripple on the water, and the 

 right time of tide from half-ebb to half-flood. In the 

 shallower inlets the neap tides are preferable, as they 

 do not drain the water so low as to alarm the fish. 



In bass fishing, whether for trolling or casting, the rod 

 should be eight to ten feet long, stiff and light, but with 

 a certain amount of elasticity. A rod made of a piece 

 of bamboo, cut in two joints, will, until some awkward 



