540 
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Forest and Stream J 
FISHING FOR BASS ON HORSEBACK 
SOME OF THE BIGGEST FISH LURK IN STREAMS WHICH ANGLERS 
FEAR TO APPROACH BECAUSE OF THE DREADED RATTLERS 
By G. HORTON GLOVER 
H enry is a Icmg-lank-clean-cut 
Florida Cracker. He was not 
always thus, because some ten 
years ago he packed up his be- 
longings in the mountains of Georgia 
and emigrated south, settling on the edge 
of St. John’s Marsh. 
He seemed to be afraid of nothing ex- 
cept an alligator, as one nearly got him 
while he was passing a scrub palmetto 
that was located a considerable distance 
from the water. There is no question 
that Henry was off his guard, as he told 
me his feelings were much disturbed on 
account of dodging a few feet of well 
armored ’gator tail. 
Well — ! You can’t blame him. 
But this is not liable to happen to 
you or me, as ’gators seldom leave 
the water except in dog-days and 
at such times it would be almost 
impossible to fish, as the mos- 
quitoes are entirely too numerous. 
With the exception of the above con- 
ditions, the diamond-back is a fox. You 
may pass a dozen in a day and will 
never be the wiser as he quietly slips off 
in the brush. 
There are other poisonous snakes in 
this country, but the word Diamond- 
Back strikes awe into the very bones of 
most all of us. Particularly so in my 
case, as the local doctor told me last 
year that the bite was always fatal. 
Fortunately, this did not prove correct 
of late as I know he treated six cases 
that have recovered. 
So with this in mind, and Henry 
breaking the trail, while his restless eye 
covered every inch of the ground 
before us, the danger was greatly 
reduced — but you may not always 
have a Henry handy, so for our 
mutual satisfaction we decided to 
take a fishing trip that wotdd prac- 
tically eliminate the snake danger. 
IV /| Y car ploughed through a 
sandy road, the scrub palmet- 
toes barely opening enough to al- 
low a passage. The sand became 
deeper and I threw my car into 
second but as I crossed the rail- 
road I was forced back to first 
speed. The road now wound 
through a typical pine forest. 
Each tree was decorated with its 
individual turpentine cup, and as 
I sped on, the smoke of a brush 
fire developed before me its gray- 
ish veil, obscuring my passage. 
Fortunately, the flames had not 
reached the road and I plunged 
through the smoke into the bright 
sunlit plains of waving sword 
grass. Beyond, a bunch of long- 
horned Florida cattle scampered 
away only to stop suddenly and 
eye me curiously. I could now see 
Henry and the horses partially 
submerged in the sea of pulsating 
grass. I pushed on to our meeting- 
place as a razor-back or two slip- 
ped off the trail with almost human 
grunts of disapproval. 
“Good morning, Henry,” I said 
as the car drew up. “Glad to see 
you. Was none too certain of the 
trail out here ; besides the fire 
nearly cut us off.” 
‘‘Thought you would have 
trouble,” he replied, “suppose we 
will have to go back another way,” 
he mused as he inspected the 
smoke cloud. 
Henry helped me on with my 
snake-proof leggins, and after 
swinging into the saddle, he 
handed me my casting rod. 
“Well ! this beats w a 1 k i n g . 
Some of them would open their 
eyes if they could see us going 
{Continued on page 559) 
N OW Henry often told me a 
rattler or any kind of snake 
was the least of his troubles, yet 
this was hard for me to believe as 
one could not help noticing that he 
never took a step without his alert 
and ever-shifting eyes first scan- 
ning the locality. Besides, he car- 
ried a small bottle that contained 
the essence of a Georgia herb that 
he believed was a cure for snake 
bites. 
“It smells just like a mad rattler, 
and is a sure antidote,” he confided 
as he removed the cork, allowing 
the sickening smell of musk to 
permeate the atmosphere. Even if 
Henry did have his little bottle I 
took no chances while in the brush, 
as my hypodermic and a fresh 
solution of potassium permangi- 
nate were always safely deposited 
in my pocket. 
When you get struck by a snake 
it is nearly always because you 
are off your guard, or did not see 
it in time. This is more liable to 
happen as one travels the brush, 
where snakes are comparatively 
rare and one becomes careless, so 
when you do run across a dia- 
mond-back all the advantage is in 
his favor as on most occasions he 
is coiled and ready to strike. 
There are times when a snake 
is too lazy to bother about any- 
thing, such as after eating a rabbit 
or other animal, and is sleepily di- 
gesting it while basking in the sun. 
The hot trail is a favorite spot on 
such occasions and it is advisable 
to watch your step. Again in the 
shedding season, it is supposed that 
it becomes partially blind, and will 
viciously strike at any moving ob- 
ject that comes near it. 
The cast — he has struck — and is landed 
Mr. Glover has struck a new stunt 
in the age-old game of fishing that 
is at once unique and fascinating. 
Read how he came to evolve an 
idea that we predict will be popular 
with the ever-increasing army of 
fishermen who are swinging to the 
South each winter for the sport that 
the ice-bound waters of the North 
deny them for a season. 
