38 Bass, Pike, and Perch 



from twenty to thirty yards will usually be suffi- 

 cient, especially when a good breeze is blowing. 



Bobbing for the large-mouth bass is much in 

 vogue in the Gulf states, but is more often prac- 

 tised in Florida. The conventional "bob" is 

 formed by tying a strip of deer's tail, with or 

 without a piece of red flannel, around a triangle 

 of hooks, the hairs completely investing the hooks. 

 A single hook, however, answers fully as well or 

 better. The hook is of large size, Nos. 3-0 to 5-0. 

 The method of procedure is as follows : The boat 

 is propelled by a single-bladed paddle, the paddler 

 being seated in the stern. The boat is moved 

 silently and cautiously, skirting the edges of 

 water-lilies and bonnets, which grow thickly 

 along the margin of the channels. The angler is 

 seated in the bow with a very long cane rod, to 

 which is aiifixed a short line of a few feet, not to 

 exceed six. As the boat advances, the angler 

 dances the bob as far ahead as possible. It is 

 held a few inches or a foot above the water, into 

 which it is " bobbed " at short intervals. Some- 

 times the bass leaps from the water to seize it. 

 When hooked, the fish is landed without any cere- 

 mony and as soon as possible, keeping it mean- 

 while on the surface, to prevent its taking to the 



