THETARPON 67 



CHAPTER IV. 



HINTS ON FISHING METHODS AND EXPEDIENTS 



IHILE certain general principles underlie the art 

 of capturing a tarpon which are applicable 

 everywhere, methods vary according to local 

 conditions, the kind of bait used and the nature of the 

 water fished. The following suggestions are made for 

 the benefit of the novice or the angler who has taken 

 but few fish. They are based, in part, upon consider- 

 able personal experience, but in setting them forth I 

 have relied chiefly upon observation of the methods 

 employed by fishermen of large and varied experience 

 with whom I have fished for many years. Many 

 anglers of experience never develop any particular 

 aptitude for the sport precisely as a man may never 

 become a good shot or billiard player, or a good horse- 

 man, no matter how much time he may devote to these 

 sports. But tarpon fishing is a sociable sport and the 

 boats are usually close together. It is easy to note the 

 methods employed by anglers and the success which 

 attends upon their practice. The guides with whom 

 I have made it a practice to talk have given me much 

 sound instruction and many hints which I am sure can 

 be followed with success. 



When the angler begins to fish the chances are that 

 he has not had a rod in his hands for a year or more. 

 He is unaccustomed to the boat, and being unused to 

 the seaway, he is clumsy in all his movements. The 

 rod feels heavy and strange to the hand. One cannot 



