324 Book of the Black Bass. 



Black bass are found at different localities in the same 

 waters, at different seasons, and frequently shift their quar- 

 ters many times during the same season, depending on the 

 nature and loealitj' of their food, the influences of wind 

 and weather, condition of the water, etc. 



Thus, early in the season, they will be found on streams 

 in shallow water, just below the rapids, or " riffles," where 

 the water is warmest, feeding on helgramites and other 

 larvae, Crustacea, minnows, etc. As the water gets warmer, 

 they resort to stiller water, under overhanging trees, and 

 feed upon the surface when the insects and flies appear. 

 Still later, they seek greater depths, adjacent to shelving 

 banks, gravelly shoals and rocky ledges, seeking minnows, 

 Crustacea, etc. 



Thej' may be found one day in water, say ten feet deep, 

 and the very next day be seen in the shallowest water near 

 shore. I will mention a striking instance of this kind : 



On one occasion, I went in company with a party of 

 expert anglers to Fpper Nemahbin Lake, near Delafield, 

 Wisconsin, ily companion was Captaia B., who exhibited 

 considerable impatience and concern because of the other 

 boats starting ahead of us over the favorite fishing-ground ; 

 but I saw that the three other boats were proceeding over 

 this ground — where, on the preceding day, I had taken a 

 fine lot of bass — without getting so much as '' a bite." 



We followed in their wake, casting right and left along 

 the edge of the bulrushes, but in vain; until, finally, we 

 reached the end of the line of rushes, at the inlet of the 

 lake. Captain B. was discouraged, but I, on the contrary, 

 was elated — for I had observed the dorsal fins of numer- 

 ous bass in the shallow water between the rushes and the 

 shore; and I had observed, further, that the bass were 



