140 



GROUND-FISHING FOR BASS. 



piece of leather, which will not chafe through on the bottom ; 

 or this part of the line may be served round with wire. To set 



the line, swing it to and 

 fro, and cast it from you 

 as far as possible. The 

 most likely place to take 

 Bass in this manner is 

 in the mouth of a river 

 or harbour, or near to 

 it, off a pier-head or an 

 open shingly beach, or 

 from a point of rock 

 whence you may cast 

 your line so that it may 

 rest on a gravelly or 

 sandy bottom ; the river's 

 mouth is generally to be 

 preferred. On a bottom 

 of smooth sand it is a 

 good plan to drive a 

 3 -inch nail through the 

 lead, thus converting it 

 into a kind of anchor. 



If two lines are used, 

 let the lead of one be 

 half a pound heavier 

 than that of the other, 

 and cast the heavier up 

 and the lighter down the tide, by which means they will the 

 better keep clear of each other. 



In order that the bait may not slide down in a bunch on the 

 bend of the hook, I frequently lash on a pin, bent at an angle 

 of 45 degrees, at the back of the hook, and passing this pin 

 through the top of the bait, all is kept snug in its required 

 position. This is plainly figured in the smaller illustration. In 

 throwing out these lines a stout stick (longer than the snood) is 

 often used, having a notch in the end into which the line is 

 placed just above the lead, which may then be thrown without 



FIG. 43. 

 Leger-lead, Trace, and Baited Hooks. 



