TROLLING FOR BASS 81 



As EUick paddled the canoe up-stream, I 

 mounted two fishing-rods, one with a spoon bait, 

 the other with a Devon minnow, and began trolling. 

 In a short time, several small-mouthed bass were 

 landed, the largest of which we kept. A reach of 

 the river fringed with weeds yielded a couple of 

 wall-eyed pike, which took eagerly, but were returned 

 to the water as undersized. Mounting larger spoons, 

 two or three pound bass seized them, to the huge 

 delight of Ellick, who had probably never seen fish 

 caught with anything more scientific than a hand- 

 line or spear. 



The maskalonge is the chief game of the French 

 River. It closely resembles the pike in appearance 

 and habits. The shape of the head is flat and 

 elongated, and resembles that of the Esoat h(cms, 

 although larger in the mouth. Its body is thinner 

 in proportion to its size, and the fish is capable of 

 equally rapid motion through the water. The colour- 

 ing is dusky grey, with none of the bar or spot 

 markings distinctive of the pike. Like the latter, 

 the maskalonge is predatory in its habits, a veritable 

 highwayman of the stream. On the margin of weeds 

 it lurks, its colouring matching the river flora, or 

 contrasting in a way equally deceptive. It is a 

 master in the art of mimicry. The long, thin body 

 changes in tint with the variegation of the weeds. 

 In the spring it is a lighter colour, in keeping with 

 the early verdure, becoming darker as the season 



G 



