372 



RECREATION. 



the water yet holding fast to the leg of 

 the duck. When the hard shell quadruped 

 realized that he was being lifted toward the 

 boat he had turtle sense enough to let go 

 his hold just in time, and with a splash he 

 fell back into the water to swim away and 

 try for ducks another day. The leg of the 

 poor fowl was so badly torn by the jaws 

 of the turtle that the duck was mercifully 

 killed. From this our farmer friend might 

 have truly added "turtles" to his laconic 

 reason for not raising anything in the fowl 

 line but chickens. 



While bass fishing on Lake Ida, Minne- 

 sota, we repeatedly noticed a flock of full 

 grown wild ducks about the water during 

 the day. We had fished the upper arm of 

 the lake and quit at dusk. Before we had 

 reached a sandy point extending out into 

 the lake it was dark. Our boatman had 

 frequently told us of the 50 and 60 pound 

 muskalonge taken in this lake late in the 

 fall, when the water is cold from top to 

 bottom. He had told us of their basking 

 in the sun on the water's surface, looking 

 all the world like a section of a fence rail. 



Out of the stillness came, from the di- 

 rection of the sandy point, a frightened 

 chorus of duck quackings, followed by a 

 hurried beating of wings on the water, ac- 

 companied instantly by a swish, as if a 

 large body were passing through the sur- 

 face ; then a dripping of water, a great 

 splash like unto a big dog jumping from a 

 dock into the water, a sound of falling 

 water as the splashed liquid returned to 

 the lake's surface, and all was quiet once 

 more. The dull, heavy blow made by the 

 body striking the water resounded against 

 the side of our boat as the sound waves 

 traveled over the surface of the water. 



"What's that?" we asked of our guide. 



"One of them big fishes I've been a-tell- 

 ing ye of, that's all. He's got his wild 

 duck for supper, 'cause them fellers when 

 they strike they never miss." 



Perhaps he was right. From the sound 

 and commotion made in the water I should 

 not have questioned his statement had the 

 ducks been geese. 



Chas. Cristadoro, St. Paul, Minn. 



BASS IN IOWA RIVERS. 

 Our last fishing season in Iowa was re- 

 plete with pleasure to every true angler. 

 The streams, especially the rivers of 

 Northern Iowa, abound with black bass of 

 the great and small mouth varieties, and 

 exceedingly gamy. They are not large, but 

 are strong, quick, snappy fighters, that 

 make the selection of tackle an important 

 item. Our river anglers carry some of the 

 best tackle made. I was extremely suc- 

 cessful last season, and my success has 

 been known among many anglers, if I may 



judge from the number of letters I have 

 received since the close of the season seek- 

 ing advice concerning the tackle and baits 

 best adapted to taking bass from Iowa riv- 

 ers. I take this opportunity of answering 

 all such letters through Recreation, which 

 every true angler, in the United States at 

 least, should read. 



I did not take great numbers of bass last 

 season, nor land any remarkably large one; 

 but landed bass when and where others 

 failed, and always saved myself the humili- 

 ation of returning Ashless after a day's 

 trial. 



Taking bass from Iowa rivers is not 

 easy. Fish food is abundant in our streams 

 from May to November, and the law al- 

 lows the angler to use but one hook at a 

 time, thereby preventing the deadly gang 

 hooks, etc. For all of this I am truly 

 thankful. I find it much more delightful 

 to angle for bass under such restrictions 

 than to be able to lift them out in large 

 numbers. I use a No. 17 Favorite Bristol 

 rod, with agate tip, agate first guide, and 

 double grip cork handle. I also use a Will- 

 iam Shakespeare professional reel, No. 3m., 

 which holds 80 yards of No. 5 braided silk 

 line. I have a small leather-covered tackle 

 case, rubber hip boots and a 10 quart min- 

 now pail. For bait I use black and brown 

 hackles, bass flies largely, tied on No. 1 

 sproat hooks, with P. & S. No. o ball bear- 

 ing spinners. This has proved an excellent 

 killer. 



When using flies I wade down stream 

 slowly and quietly, casting to each side and 

 in front, about 40 to 60 feet. This is the 

 most sportsmanlike way I know of taking 

 bass. I have taken 3-pound bass in this 

 way with a No. 1 sproat hook. I also use 

 minnows at times. I use double gut lead- 

 ers. I fasten a small wire to the leader 

 above the hook, run the wire into the min- 

 now's mouth and out through its gill, and 

 wrap the loose end of wire around the 

 hook near the bend. This does not hurt 

 the minnow, but keeps it and the hook 

 where they belong. I then use this bait as 

 I would a fly, casting it to each side and in 

 front as I move down the stream. Our 

 river here, the Volga, is filled with large 

 rocks. When using live bait I cast where I 

 can cause the minnow to strike the water 

 above a rock or cover and float down to- 

 ward it, or swim around at its own will. I 

 also use grasshoppers, ground worms and 

 crawfish in much the same way, except 

 that I hook them. 



It requires some practice to cast a fly or 

 any light bait any distance and place it 

 where you wish, but after you have ac- 

 quired the ability to do this you will feel a 

 thousand times paid for the necessary ef- 

 fort. I have cast a small minnow 80 feet 

 and landed it within a few inches of the 



