Conditions which Govern Biting of Fish. 337 



streams and shallow waters, while the more unlikely days 

 would better suit lake's and deep waters; though in either 

 case, the pleasantest days, in all respects, are the best. 



The fish in deep waters are not so easily affected by the 

 vicissitudes of weather, as those in waters of shallow depth. 

 As exceptional cases I might add that I have had as good 

 success with a reefing east wind, or a half-gale from the 

 north-west, on lakes of good depth, as at, seemingly, the 

 most favorable times. 



Once, on La Belle Lake, at Oeonomowoc, Wisconsin, I 

 went fishing when the wind was blowing quite fresh from 

 the west. I proceeded to the lower end of the lake, some 

 three miles, when the wind suddenly hauled around to the 

 north-west, blowing great guns, and causing the "white- 

 caps " to roll furiously. It was impossible to make head- 

 way against it, so I was compelled to anchor, which I did 

 in a bight of bulrushes, in water from ten to twelve feet 

 deep, but near a gravelly bar. Here I took, in a little 

 more than two hours, twenty-five black bass, which after- 

 ward turned the scales at seventy-five pounds. I have 

 always considered this catch as being one of the best I 

 ever made. On my return, owing to the high wind and 

 heavy sea, it was all I could do to keep my boat from 

 swamping. 



On another occasion, on Oeonomowoc Lake, I fished at a* 

 rocky bar, which divided the lake into two portions. The 

 wind was blowing a half -gale from the east, and quite 

 cool ; the shallow water on the bar was churned and tossed 

 into billows of seething foam by the high wind, enabling 

 me to fish in water but a foot or two in depth; and in a 

 short time I took nine bass, the smallest of which weighed 

 four pounds. 



Again, on Genesee Lake, in the same locality, I once 



