Fly-Fishing. 375 



The black bass will rise to the fly as readily, under any 

 and all conditions, as the brook trout, when fished for 

 understandingly, and under proper precautions. There are 

 times, seemingly favorable, when neither bass nor trout will 

 rise to the fly. 



One reason why the bass is thought to be uncertain in 

 rising .to the fly is this : While he is fully as wary as the . 

 trout he is not so timid. A trout darts incontinently 

 away at the first glimpse of the angler, and is seen no 

 more; but the bass will retire but a short distance, and 

 as often will stand his ground, and on balanced fins will 

 watch the angler vainly casting his " brown hackle " or 

 "coachman" over him, perhaps laughing in his sleeve 

 (shoulder girdle) at his discomfiture. The truth of the 

 matter is, the bass is not uncertain, but he is too knowing 

 to be deceived by his flies, so long as the angler is in sight. 



Pish are more suspicious regarding objects on the sur- 

 face of the water than of those beneath. I have often 

 demonstrated this, causing them to skurry away, by hold- 

 ing a long stick immediately over them, above the surface ; 

 while I could introduce the same stick underneath the 

 water and even prod a fish with it, without alarming it 

 much. This is why more caution is necessary in fly-fish- 

 ing than in bait-fishing; the bait in one instance being on 

 the surface, and in the other, beneath. If a black bass, in 

 rushing to the surface for the fly sees the angler, he at 

 once stops in his course, and thenceforth the daintiest flies, 

 though never so deftly thrown, will be cast in vain while 

 the angler remains in view. 



In the London " Field " once appeared an article, written 

 by the former able editor of that valuable paper, Francis 

 Francis, Esq., on the frightening of brook trout by the 

 flashing and reflections of a varnished fly-rod, when wildly 



