6o 



RECREATION 



detachability in case of a broken hook. 



Sea tront, channel bass, groupers, 

 blue fish, Spanish mackerel, kingfish, 

 amber jacks, barracuda, cavalle, pom- 

 pano and numerous other sea fishes take 

 auv of the above sinking minnows, while 

 some varieties rise to surface lures. For 

 trolliuo- for sea fish behind launches at 

 speeds of six miles an hour or more, 

 the popular squid which may be pro- 

 cured at all coast towns, is an excellent 

 lure, but is too heavy for casting or 

 slow trolling. 



While any bait-casting reel will suf- 

 fice, those of eighty yards capacity are 

 most satisfactory, especially for bass, 

 which use entirely different tactics than 

 their northern kin. Instead of endeav- 

 oring to entangle the line in old roots, 

 fallen tree tops, weeds and the like, fre- 

 quent rapid dashes toward the boat are 

 made, often shaking every five or ten 

 feet, thus the advantage of a larger 

 diameter reel than the much loved Ken- 

 tucky pattern, which will take up the 

 line more rapidly. 



Unquestionably no line, casting, wear- 

 ing cjualities and strength considered, is 

 equal to the size "H" Black Wonder 

 for Florida waters. By equipping the 

 reel with an even spooler, which makes 

 a perfect spool, no difficulty in casting 

 will be experienced by the change in 

 lines. 



An ideal rod is one of from four feet 

 nine inches to five feet in length — not 

 longer — and of one piece, with remova- 

 ble handle. An adjustable finger hook 

 or trigger is a valuable adjunct. 



To those objecting to the incon- 

 venience of one-piece rods, may be 

 recommended a rather unique design in 

 the way of two-piece construction, in 

 which the tips are from 32 to 30 

 inches in length, depending upon the 

 size trunk in which they are to be 

 packed; the butt joint, including grip 

 and reel seat, making the additional 

 length. 



Two-piece rods of equal length joints, 

 unless too heavy to possess good action, 

 are almost sure to break at the ferrule. 



As in all bait casting rods nearly all of 

 the action or spring should be from a 

 point two-thirds of the distance from 

 grip to the tip and so proportioned 

 that when the grip is held rigid and the 

 tip subjected to a right angle strain of 

 12 oz. will yield nine inches. 



Florida bass being very tough 

 mouthed and requiring severe striking 

 to set the hooks past the beards, rods 

 less rigid than above will be found lack- 

 ing. 



Split bamboo is without question the 

 best wood for rods, possessing great 

 strength for its weight and being of 

 relatively perfect resiliency, but the 

 glued joints deteriorate rapidly if ex- 

 posed to water, and the cost is rather 

 high if of best quality. 



Greenheart is next in point of action 

 and in careful hands makes a very sat- 

 isfactory rod, but is inclined to be brit- 

 tle and will not stand careless usage. 



White lancewood is generally sup- 

 posed to be superior to yellow, but the 

 latter is certainly stronger and although 

 slightly heavier, makes a very good and 

 durable rod, one to be recommended to 

 amateurs. 



Probably at no point on the east 

 coast is better sea fishing found than at 

 Fort Pierce, although most any station 

 on Indian River affords good fishing 

 and hotel accommodations. Nearly all 

 the fresh water streams flowing into the 

 river contain black bass in sufficient 

 quantities to satisfy the average disciple 

 of Walton. 



On the west or Gulf coast, Sarasota 

 bay, Charlotte harbor, San Carlos bay 

 and the Caloosahatchee river are fa- 

 vorite waters. 



The best bass fishing in America is in 

 what is known as the Kissimmee water- 

 way, starting at the town of Kissimmee 

 on Lake Tohopekaliga and extending 

 south through the Kissimmee river, 

 which is divided by Lake Kissimmee — 

 about ninety miles to Lake Okeechobee, 

 the largest in the state, thence through 

 a drainage canal to the Caloosahatchee 

 river and to San Carlos bay and the 



