CASTING FOR BASS BY MOONLIGHT 



By C. L. DEWEY 



SUPPOSE the aver- ows extend far out in the lake and 



age bait caster knows form grotesque pictures on nature's 



very little of casting mirror. Of course we had everything 



by moonlight, but to ready with which to begin operations 



my mind this is a before we started. As one of our nuni- 



most pleasurable way ber, Percy by name, had volunteered 



of fishing. The very to handle the paddle, Bert took a posi- 



weirdness and un- tion in the center and I finally got my 



certainty constitute its chief charm, for long legs in the bow of the canoe so 



the more uncertain a thing, the greater if we capsized I would have no earthly 



the satisfaction when it is accom- show of getting my head above water 



plished. until I was pulled up by a grappling- 



For this particular fishing, a lance- hook or a charge of dynamite, 



wood bait-casting rod between five and We glided smoothly over the water 



six feet in length, a good double mu!ti- until we came to a good fishing ground 



plying reel, about fifty yards of No. 5 and then a race ensued to see who 



Kingfisher silk line and a surface cast- would get the first strike. I say race, 



ing bait make an ideal combination, but don't think that I mean hurry. You 



Confirmed fly-casters often ridicule the must be deliberate and careful and with 



bait-caster with the stubby rod, but I a graceful cast and dainty splash, drop 



have used both and it takes fully as your bait anywhere over fifty feet and 



much skill and practice to manage the under seventy feet from the canoe, 



short rod as the long, whippy one and Now there is a small bunch of lily-pads, 



bait-casting offers a much larger field Surely a five-pounder lurks there wait- 



and larger variety of fishing than fly- ing for the lucky fisherman. Swiftly 



casting. A surface bait should always out toward the bunch sails the white 



be used, as a bass strikes at the com- bait and drops lightly just beyond, a 



motion made by the bait, not because he good sixty feet from the canoe. Pause 



is hungry, but merely because he wants an instant and then give a little jerk, 



to fight. The bass is naturally a fighter just enough to move the bait, then reel 



and will strike at a cigarette box skit- slowly in holding the rod at an angle of 



tered over his hiding place as quickly about 45 degrees. Well, now, that was 



and ferociously as he will at the bright- a shame, not even a "bunt," but maybe 



est colored bait on the market. I once you will do better next time, 



caught on a surface bait a three pound Look again ! Out ahead of the ca- 



bass, which, by some mysterious way, noe goes a riffle and you must cast 



known only to himself, had captured a about three or four feet ahead of him. 



swallow, and the wings and tail were Now, he has stopped ; out of sight goes 



protruding from the mouth an inch, so your bait with a rush and swirl, 



this bass certainly did not strike be- Plandle carefully, for he is making 



cause he was hungry. straight for that old log over there 



Imagine yourself with three con- where he has fooled us so often before, 



genial spirits, all good fellows and fair Hold him taut, but do not jerk him, 



fishermen, and it promises to be an ideal for maybe he is not hooked very rnrd. 



night, for it is the month of July, warm He comes to the surface again. Yon 



and calm, and a full, round moon is just are sure he will tip the scales at four 



peeping over the treetops whose shad- and a half anyway, maybe more. He 



462 





