420 Book of the Black Bass. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 



TROLLING. 



"And then you are to know that your minnow must be so put 

 on your hook that it must turn round when 'tis drawn against the 

 stream." — Izaae Walton. 



Trolling with the Eod. 



Trollixg with the rod, and with the artificial fl_y, the 

 liye miimow, or the spoon for bait, is capital sport ; and is 

 a very popular style of angling on the lakes and lakelets 

 of the western states. It is more en regie than still-fish- 

 ing, and is, besides, more exciting sport, possessing advan- 

 tages over the latter method in several respects. 



The angler can fish with a long line, even though he be 

 indifferent at casting; for, as the boat moves along the 

 line can be pulled off from the reel, yard by yard, with 

 the hand, while the resistance of the bait, in the water, 

 takes it from the rod. The bait being in constant motion 

 is more likely to be seen and taken by the fish than in still- 

 fishing ; while the great length of line takes the bait so far 

 from the boat as to remove or quiet any suspicions or ap- 

 prehensions of danger on the part of the wily bass. 



Then, the boat not being anchored, as in still-fishing, 

 the boatman can favor the angler in many ways when play- 

 ing or landing his fish. Then, again, in moving over so 

 much and so great a variety of ground, the angler is more 

 apt to find where the bass are feeding, and thus to know 

 just the character of the ground and depth of water to try 

 successfully on each partiexdar occasion. And, lastly, it 



