SKITTEEINa AND BOBBING. 429 



The angler has now no time to lose, but must rapidly 

 draw the bass along the surface of the water to the boat, 

 into which he must be lifted at once, for he is as good as 

 gone if he gets below the surface, among the weeds; nor 

 must he be allowed to leap into the air with so short a 

 line, but he must be dragged quickly along the surface, 

 with his head above the water, until the line can be taken 

 hold of close to the hook, or the finger hooked in the gill- 

 opening, and the fish dexterously lifted over the side of the 

 boat. A landing-net is seldom used. 



In such situations, skittering is exciting sport, and is 

 not without its attractions. The bright glancing spoon, 

 the expert and skillful management of the rod, the mighty 

 rush and splash of the bass as he snaps up the shining 

 bauble, and his subsequent lashing and floundering as he 

 is irresistibly drawn toward the boat, vainly endeavoring 

 to get either in or out of the water, and the final adroit 

 manner of landing him, go far toward making this a legiti- 

 mate sport, as it undoubtedly is, in the localities men- 

 tioned, inasmuch as reel-fishing can not be practiced for 

 reasons before given. 



Bobbing. 



"Bobbing" is another style of angling peculiar to the 

 section of country Just mentioned, and though it can not 

 be regarded as so artistic or legitimate, it is far more kill- 

 ing than skittering. It is a mode of fishing especially 

 adapted to the waters of the Gulf states, where it is much 

 practiced. The implements for bobbing are few and sim- 

 ple, consisting merely of a strong rod from twelve to fifteen 

 feet in length, two or three feet of stout line, and the' 

 " bob," heretofore described in Chapter xvii. 



I can not explain this method of angling better than 



