THE basses: fres h-w ater and marine 



Minnows 



The live minnows used in taking black bass are 

 of many species, with many and varied local names 

 for the same fish. The most common in use, and 

 confusedly so, are generally known as chub, shiner, 

 dace, silver minnow, golden shiner, darter, etc. In 

 this connection it is important to remember that 

 black bass take more eagerly any live bait brought 

 from waters that are distant from its habitat. The 

 most successful method of procuring minnows for 

 baiting purposes is by the use of a seine not less 

 than fifteen feet in length and of very small mesh. 

 Such devices as glass minnow traps or dip nets are 

 not, as a rule, successful, although in some waters 

 the former seem to be fairly effective. Old anglers 

 who do not care to spend the entire day in fish- 

 ing and are not equipped with a seine delight in 

 catching their minnows singly on an almost micro- 

 scopic piece of worm placed on the point of a midge 

 hook. On a shady shelving shore with a light rod 

 and dehcate tackle minnow-fishing has its pleasures. 



Grasshoppers 



Grasshoppers, at certain seasons of the year, are 

 most attractive bait for black bass. They usually 

 abound and are easily caught with an insect net on 



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