374 BOOK OF THE BLACK BASS. 



calls, eyeing the angler meanwhile, and entirely ignoring 

 his best skill, though he cast his feathery lures never so 

 lightly and naturally. The Bass is too knowing to be 

 taken in by any such deception so long as he sees the an- 

 gler at the other end of the rod ; hence, more caution is 

 really necessary in fly-fishing for Black Bass than for the 

 Brook Trout. 



In regard to the best time of day for angling, there is 

 not much choice, and it is governed a good deal by the 

 season of the year, the temperature of the water, and by 

 the character of the day itself, though, as a rule, fish are 

 sluggish and off their feed during the middle of the day, 

 with a bright and warm sun, say from noon until three 

 o'clock, except early and late in the season, when the water 

 is still cold, when the middle of the day is often the best 

 time. 



For bait-fishing, on small streams, the early morning 

 hours, about sunrise, are often the best; though on large 

 streams and lakes there is nothing gained by early fishing, 

 as the fish do not bite well until the sun is several hours 

 high. 



The latter part of the afternoon, until sundown, is often 

 the best part of the day for the angler. On cloudy days, 

 however, the middle of the day is often the most favorable, 

 especially if the weather is rather cool. 



For fly-fishing, the early morning hours succeeding sun- 

 rise, and from an hour or two before sunset until dark, or 

 with a nearly full moon, even later, will be found the best 

 hours for filling the creel. 



Of course, all of these times must be governed by con- 

 ditions of the wind, weather, and water, whether favorable 

 or not; for no matter what the hour of the day, it will be 



