356 
FOREST AND STREAM 
THE GAMEST FISH THAT SWIMS. 
(Continued from page 332) 
is a well-known fact that the black bass always 
strikes from the side, never from the rear, that 
is left to the wall-eye and members of the pike 
family. A single hook of proper shape upon 
either side of the lure is enough; the rear hooks 
can be removed. Let the bass fishman ask him¬ 
self how many fish he has taken upon the rear 
hooks, if he doubt my assertion. 
As there are so many casters of artificial lures, 
so many expert wielders of the short rod, over¬ 
much information regarding the popular method 
is out of place. Casting is a preeminently the 
method for lakes and out-spread water, thougn 
there is sport in small river fishing for those who 
can handle the short rod beneath trees and 
knows the habits of bass in such environments. 
The bass, like members of the pike family, lie in 
wait for game along the edges of weed beds, 
about logs and snags. A lure cast in such 
places when conditions are right is sure to be 
met with an attack. That is the term to employ, 
attack,” for no other word describes the on¬ 
slaught of the angry or ravenously hungry fish, 
mere curiosity will not account for the vicious 
rush with which a bass strikes. As to the par¬ 
ticular pattern or style of bait which one should 
use, all depends upon the character of the water 
fished. Where the bottom is covered with snags 
the surface lures will be found most efficient, and 
they are gotten out in such a variety of shapes, 
sizes and colors that the most particular caster 
can find something to suit his fancies, and if 
as I think, the bass is not overly particular as 
to the precise pattern, surely all will be well. 
That casting with short rod and artificial lures 
is the most popular method of taking bass there 
is no doubt, and it is extremely doubtful if the 
fly rod will ever be as popular. But there is a 
method of taking bass, well nigh fallen into 
disuse, which is perfectly legitimate and very 
enjoyable to a lineal descendent of Izaak Wal¬ 
ton. I refer to plain, every-day bait fishing. True, 
there are some who use frogs and minnows in 
casting, but it seems hardly admissible to me, so 
perfect and efficient are the artificial lures. There 
are waters, and seasons in all waters, when it is 
almost impossible to lure a bass with surface 
or underwater lure. Then bait will turn the trick. 
In the middle of the summer, when the days are 
hot, bass will seek the deepest and coolest holes 
in the lake, and can be inveigled from their re¬ 
treats only by live bait. For such fishingT use 
the old Henshall bait rod, six-and-a-half feet 
long, and either live minnows or frogs for bait. 
Fishing in twenty or thirty feet of water is an 
experience. When a bass is hooked the battle 
will be fought well below the surface, but it un¬ 
bass like and unspectacular, it will be conducted 
in a tackle-testing manner. In addition to the 
two baits named one should mention craw-fish, 
the natural food of the bass, grasshoppers, 
crickets, and even the everyday earthworm Fish¬ 
ing with live bait is well nigh a lost art, but with 
proper tackle it remains the contemplative man’s 
recreation. The fly fisherman and handler of 
artificial lures must give his whole attention to 
the matter in hand, he dare not “bask and dream 
the whole day through.” 
Looking back over many years of bass fishing, 
recalling the various rigs used on many lakes and 
streams, east and west, I think I can honestly 
say I have derived the greatest pleasure from 
live bait fishing. Fishing with flies is more fin¬ 
ished, more artistic, the wielding of artificial 
lures requires greater skill; but both of these 
methods are strenuous, requiring the fisherman’s 
undivided attention and thought. The live bait 
fisherman has time for introspection and retro¬ 
spection while he waits for a bite, the waiting 
being not less enjoyable than the tardy “bite” 
itself. Sitting in the gloaming, while the thick 
shadows creep in from the east and the tuneful 
birds make the shore of the lake to resound with 
melody, even the rising and falling cadence of 
the frog chorus possesses a musical value be¬ 
fore undreamed of. Night-hawks ricochet just 
above the surface of the water until daylight 
shades into night. Then the fire-flies flash in 
and out amid the shrubbery along the shore. 
Such, in part, is the setting of the scene for the 
bait fisherman s act, the twentieth century con¬ 
templative angler. Bait fishing, still fishing, call 
it what you please,—is good for what ails us 
these days. 
Where is something about the fight of a black 
bass, the determined rushes, the aerial leaps, the 
deep borings, the never-say-die spirit he man¬ 
ifests, and appeals to our imagination if there be 
a single drop of red blood in our veins. The 
most phlegmatic individual takes fire, from mere¬ 
ly beholding the struggle, and the blase 
angler, he who has been in at the finish of many 
a doughtily contested battle, finds himself grow¬ 
ing more and more excited with every mad rush 
of the fish. Who can still the wild leap of his 
heart when the frantic fish goes into the air, 
shaking the water from his glowing sides in a 
silvery shower? 
There are anglers who “pull the fish down” 
when he leaps, lest the hook be dislodged in mid¬ 
air, but I let them leap, the more times they “go 
into the air” the better I am satisfied. “But 
do you not lose fish?” Yes, many a time, but the 
fish that can dislodge the hook is welcome to 
his liberty. The black bass is an American and 
a fighter. He may be overcome, but never van¬ 
quished. Because I am an American, I have 
unbounded respect for his ability, pluck and 
endurance. If he succeed in breaking away or 
in smashing my tackle, God bless him ! he is wel¬ 
come to his liberty. 
I take off my hat to this king of the sunfish 
family—large mouth or small mouth, it is all one 
to me. May his tribe increase and his fighting 
power never decrease! So he swims, pound for 
pound and inch for inch, dorsal fin above them 
all. Here is to the black bass, the greatest 
American fish ! 
Notes From Newfoundland 
Where Salmon Fishing is to be Found This Year—Something 
About the Caribou 
Editor Forest and Stream : 
Judging by inquiries received during the last 
couple of months the influx of American sports¬ 
men into Newfoundland during the coming sea¬ 
son will be larger than ever. 
__ Several who have spent their vacations in 
Europe during the last few years, have inti¬ 
mated that they will turn their wandering foot¬ 
steps this way, and enjoy “peace and much good 
fishing beside some of our numerous salmon 
streams. We have room for all who are likely to 
come and for many more. 
The official returns show that a goodly number 
of American anglers availed of the sport of kings 
last year. The number of rivers fished was 
about sixty-three, and the total catch amounted 
to about 6,000 fish. 
Some of the rivers had a fair number of 
sportsmen and gave good results. Among the 
rivers showing the largest returns, may be men¬ 
tioned Salmonier River, with 1,196 fish; Placen¬ 
tia, 589; River Codroy, both branches, 770; Harry’s 
River, 256; Gande, 235; Trepassz, 255; Lang’s, 
103; Pitlaw Creek, 101; River of Ponds, 102; 
Hawk s Bay, 107, and many others with smaller 
returns. 
The explanation of the large catches caught at 
Salmonier and Placentia, lies in the fact that 
those places are near St. John’s and had many 
more visitors than the others, consequently the 
total caught was greater. Many equally as good 
rivers show only a few fish caught in them. This 
was because the visitors amounted to very few. 
We have sufficient fish and fishing to supply thou¬ 
sands more than we are likely to get for many 
years. American anglers from time to time 
have complained of the laxity of the supervision 
of the rivers, and have urged members of the 
Game Commission to raise the license fee, 
order that this service may be more effectiv 
carried out. 
Acting on this suggestion the Commission ] 
appointed a larger number of wardens and 1 
also suggested that the license fee be gradua 
as follows: Salmon license for 15 days’ fishi 
?io.oo; for 30 days, $20.00, and for the wh 
season, $50.00. 
It is hoped by this arrangement to give 1 
genuine angler the worth of his money'. 
Complaints have been made about fish-hc 
getting fish by foul-hooking with flies. 
Extra efforts will be made during the seas 
to put a stop to this practice and to puni 
offenders. 
It has also been decided to prohibit the catc 
mg of salmon by any guide, warden, packer 
camp employe—complaint having been made tl 
certain anglers, when tired of fishing themselv, 
set their employes to fish in order to secure t 
pools against all comers, and monopolize the 
for their own private use and benefit. 
The number of caribou killed last season, a 
cording to the reports, show a great decrease 
the credit of visiting sportsmen. The exa 
number reported killed was 2,291, of which 22. 
were killed by residents and 51 by licensed fo 
eign sportsmen. 
The weather is becoming somewhat more se 
tied, and the outlook is that the season will 1 
a good one. 
Sea trout, the forerunner of the salmon, ai 
reported as having already appeared in lar f 
numbers in Colinet River. A visitor to th- 
locality returned recently with a box of fir 
3rge fish - W. J. CARROLL. 
St. John’s, Newfoundland, May 14, 1915. 
