422 Book of the Black Bass. 



waters often require different flies, in trolling as well as in 

 fly-fishing. 



Three split shot. No. 1, should he placed at equal dis- 

 tances along the leader, so as to keep the flies submerged 

 from one to two feet below the surface. The boat should 

 be propelled quite slowly in trolling with flies, so as to 

 permit their sinking to the proper depth, and, likewise, to 

 enable them to be easily seen by the fish. 



If the first bass hooked takes an upper fly, by playing 

 him judiciously and cautiously, one, or even two, addi- 

 tional bass may often be induced to take the lower flies, 

 though I do not advise this plan with a light rod; one at 

 a time will afford better sport. 



If a spoon-bait is to be the lure, only the smallest sizes, 

 as fly-spoons, or trout-spoons, should be employed, with a 

 single hook. Usually, no sinker will be needed, but one 

 or two swivels should always be used — one next to the 

 spoon, and the other several feet above it. In trolling 

 with the spoon, the boat should move at a sufficient rate 

 of speed to cause the spoon to revolve rapidly a foot or 

 two beneath the surface of the water. 



In trolling with the live minnow, but one hook should 

 be used. Give a wide berth to the English abominations 

 known as spinning-tackle, gangs, traces, etc., consisting of 

 from three to a dozen hooks, arranged in groups of three, 

 with single hooks for impaling the minnow. A single 

 hook is sufficient for all purposes. The live or dead min- 

 now may be hooked through the lips ; or, perhaps-, the best 

 way for trolling, with a dead minnow, is to pass the hook 

 through the mouth and out at the gill-opening, then carry 

 it back and insert it just behind the dorsal fin; a needle 

 armed with a strong thread is then passed through the lips 

 of the minnow, and tightly tied to the snell, this obviates 



