Conditions which Goteen Biting of Fish. 335 



during the proper season, will rise as readily to the fly, 

 under the same conditions, as the trout. 



But the fact is, that while the bass is as wary as the 

 trout, he is not so timid. The trout darts away at the 

 first glimpse of the angler, while the bass will hold his 

 ground, though ready to depart unceremoniously when 

 occasion calls, eyeing the angler meanwhile, and entirely 

 ignoring his best skill, though he east his feathery lures 

 never so lightly and naturally. The bass is too knowing 

 to be taken in by any such deception so long as he sees the 

 angler at the other end of the rod; hence, more caution is 

 really necessary in fly-fishing for black bass than for the 

 brook trout. 



In regard to the best time of day for angling, there is 

 not much choice, and it is governed a good deal by the 

 season of the year, the temperature of the water, and by 

 the character of the day itself, though, as a rule, fish are 

 sluggish and oft' their feed during the middle of the day, 

 with a bright and warm sun, say from noon until three 

 o'clock, except early and late in the season, when the water 

 is still cold, when the middle of the day is often the best 

 time. 



For bait-fishing, on small streams, the early morning 

 hours, about sunrise, are often the best; though on large 

 streams and lakes there is nothing gained by early fishing, 

 as the fish do not bite well until the sun is several hours 

 high. 



The latter part of the afternoon, until sundown, is often 

 the best part of the day for the angler. On cloudy days, 

 however, the middle of the day is often the most favorable, 

 especially if the weather is rather cool. 



For fly-fishing, the early morning hours succeeding sun- 

 rise, and from an hour or two before sunset until dark, or 



