Still-Pishing. 413 



the innocence and freshness of his youth when seated at the 

 waterside with the " peeled sapling " in his stiffened hands 

 — the voice of the stream whispering in his ears — its 

 moist breath stealing through his grizzled locks — and its 

 rippling smile flashing on his tired eyes! 



Still-fishing is the most universal mode of angling for 

 the black bass. As the name implies, it consists in throw- 

 ing in the baited hook, and waiting patiently for " a bite,''" 

 the angler, meanwhile, keeping himself and rod as still as 

 possible. Fly-fishing is surface fishing; casting the min- 

 now is both surface and mid-water fishing; while still-fish- 

 ing combines mid-water and bottom fishing. In fly-fishing 

 and casting the minnow the bait is kept in pretty constant 

 motion, while in still-fishing the bait is left to itself, or 

 "still," for a longer or shorter time. Still-fishing on 

 streams is best practiced from the banks, while on lakes or 

 large ponds a boat is necessary. 



Tackle. 



Still-fishing is often practiced without a reel, and some- 

 times without a rod, a hand-line merely being used. When 

 no reel is employed the rod should be quite long and light, 

 the best being a cane pole from twelve to fifteen feet in 

 length. When the reel is used (as it always ought to be) 

 the rod recommended for casting the minnow is the best, 

 though most still-fishers prefer a longer rod, say from ten 

 to twelve feet, as they are not proficient in casting. 



The length of the line for still-fishing depends upon the 

 character of the rod. Where no reel is employed it should 

 be of about the same length as the rod; when the angler 

 uses a reel, but is indifferent at casting, a line of twenty- 

 five yards is sufficient; but when the regular minnow-rod 

 is used by a good caster, fifty yards, as in casting the min- 



