CASTING THE MINNOW. 425 



every motion of the fish. At the proper time the angler 

 should check him by a stronger pressure of the thumb, 

 when, if the Bass pulls strongly and steadily, and seems 

 inclined to run away with the bait, he should be hooked at 

 once by a slight " twist of the wrist," but not by a violent 

 jerk, or by " yanking" the rod. 



If, however, upon checking the Bass, he gives several 

 tugs or a succession of slight jerks, it is better to let him 

 run a few seconds longer, for he has the bait crosswise in 

 his mouth and does not feel the steel; finally, when he 

 pulls steadily, hook him as before described. The Bass 

 should never be given time to gorge, or swallow the bait. 



From the time a Bass first " bites " until he is in the 

 landing-net, he should never be given an inch of slack 

 line, under any circumstances. The rod must be held by 

 the butt, with the thumb upon the reel, or, if the rod is 

 held in the left hand, the line must be held against the 

 rod, by the forefinger, which encircles it, and thus acts as 

 a drag. The Bass is, of course, hooked by the right, or 

 rod hand, and the rod is held in that hand so long so the 

 Bass is inclined to pull steadily, or take line; but as soon 

 as he shows a disposition to "let up," or turn toward the 

 angler, the rod must be taken in the other hand, so as to 

 leave the right hand free to use the reel. The Bass should 

 be made to feel, constantly, the spring of the rod, which 

 should always maintain a curve, by the tip being held in an 

 elevated position. The Bass should fight for every inch 

 of line, and the angler should take it again whenever pos- 

 sible. The fish must be killed on the rod. 



Should the Bass break water, with a long line, merely 

 let the rod straighten as he falls back, so as to slacken the 



line (but it should be recovered immediately when he 

 36 



