3T4 Book of the Black Bass. 



flexible one. Give more line only when he takes it; make 

 him fight for every inch, and take it back when you can; 

 hold him by the spring of the rod, and do not hesitate to 

 turn the butt toward him to keep him away from weeds, 

 rocksj snags, or other dangerous places ; this will bring him 

 up with a round turn, and is called " giving the butt." 



Don't be in a hurry to land him; the longer he resists, 

 the better for your sport; take your time and only land 

 him when he is completely exhausted; for if he is well 

 hooked, and the proper tension of rod and line maintained, 

 he can not get away; on the other hand, if he is tenderly 

 hooked, the more gingerly he is handled the better. There- 

 fore, never be in a hurry, and never attempt to force mat- 

 ters; always keep a bent rod and taut line; if the bass 

 breaks water on a short line, the best plan is to lower the 

 tip, so as to slack the line, but immediately raise the rod 

 and tighten the line when he strikes the water again, for 

 if he falls on a taut line he is most sure to escape; this 

 is one of his most wily tricks. With a long line it does 

 not matter so much. 



Remarks, Hints, and Advice. 

 It has been doubted by some that the black bass will 

 rise to the fly, or at best that they are' uncertain in their 

 modes and times of doing so, as compared with the brook 

 trout. These doubts are mostly raised by those who angle 

 for the black bass in precisely the same way as for the 

 brook trout, upon the supposition that the two fish are 

 identical in habits and instincts. But while their habits 

 of feeding are very similar — both feeding on the bottom, 

 in midwater, or on the surface, on Crustacea, larvae, min- 

 nows, insects, etc. — they differ greatly in other habitual 

 features and idiosvncrasies. 



