BASS IN THE BEAVERKILL 



Of course, most anglers like to land fish, — 

 plenty of them and of tolerable size. Yet the 

 true fisherman can return home after a hard day's 

 work with nothing in his creel, and still be satis- 

 fied with his efforts, knowing fuU well that many 

 conditions have to be combined ere the wary fish 

 give the desired chances. And the fish are by no 

 means the only factor to be considered. A hot 

 or windy day is unfavorable, and a night's rain 

 swells these mountain rivers into roaring torrents, 

 so that if the holiday is limited to a week or two, 

 the waiting for the water to become normal would 

 try the patience of St. Peter himself. 



Some Awkward Experiences 



I have always found that it takes a couple of 

 days in a new place to find out what bait to use, 

 where the fish Ue, and what time of day they are 

 amiable — for the only fish that is at aU agreeable 

 is the one that meets you half way. If it be a 

 large one, the chance is all on its side to get away 

 and live to come some other day. The true angler 

 scorns to haul him in like a codfish. That is why, 

 in fly-fishing, a nice judgment is required, to be 

 neither quick nor slow. A bass will come to the 

 creel quicker when handled firmly. I shall never 

 forget one of the first really good-sized bass I 

 hooked, using a shiner for bait, at the SuUivan 



125 



