462 
[March 21, 1908. 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
acteristic outline and pectoral fin of a yellow- 
fin tuna were not plainly distinguishable. 
Sport at the island is opening earlier this 
year, apparently. The yellow-fins very nearly 
gave us the go-by last year, and anglers hope 
the present season will not be such another pan¬ 
flash as it predecessor. 
Yellowtail have begun biting quite freely on 
the mainland side of the channel, good catches 
being reported at Port Los Angeles. They are 
ahead of schedule. Albacore are biting quite 
freely outside, and there is more for the rod to 
do than is usual for this month. 
The formal opening of the season may be 
looked for from the end of April to June, when 
the white sea bass begin running. They afford 
some splendid sport and run of gold button 
size. 
Undoubtedly the greatest season in the history 
of light tackle marine angling is forthcoming 
in Southern California. Having tried the nine- 
thread line and nine-ounce rod thoroughly on 
big fish and found them not wanting in the 
requisite strength, a group of local experts 
have decided to try the six-thread six-ounce 
combination for yellowtail and other fish under 
forty pounds. Arthur Jerome Eddy, president 
of the Light Tackle Club, and directors Thos. 
McD. Potter, Chas. F. Holder, and Lafayette 
P. Streeter, and the writer all are working to¬ 
gether striving to evolve practicable tackle to 
see just how far the thing can be carried by the 
most expert. In case the expected success 
crowns their efforts, a classification will be 
made for the new gear. 
Meanwhile some six-ounce rods are being 
built and a stock of six-thread lines has been laid 
in. The scheme .has long been a favorite one 
with Director Potter. Edw. L. Hedderly. 
Fly-Fishing for Black Bass. 
Little Rock, Ark., March 7.— Editor Forest 
and Stream: I note that Mr. Finletter says he 
cannot catch small-mouth black bass with a fly. 
I do not know anything about the habits of the 
small-mouth that far north, but it is an easy 
matter to catch it down here if you go at it in 
the right way and in the right place. First, I am 
not a first-class fly-caster. I doubt if I would 
come under the wire in the scrub list, but I can 
catch the bass. There is no use in looking for 
the small-mouth in deep, still water. You can 
find his large-mouthed brother there and he will 
take your fly. The small-mouth is found in run¬ 
ning water. The best place is on a sandbar or 
at the foot of it. He will be there looking for 
the minnows and will chase them into water he 
can hardly float in himself. 
The best outfit I have found is a small spinner 
with a leaf not larger than a clover leaf, with 
1/0 hook and either a bucktail or a red ibis fly 
on it, with another fly eighteen inches above. For 
all-round use the bucktail and red ibis seem to 
be best, but if the water is extremely clear, dark 
flies are all right. 
If I could have only one fly I would take the 
bucktail. I have never had any results with red 
or green flies, though many fishermen tell me 
they have good results. It is better to have the 
favorite fly on the spinner. If after a few casts 
you find they are taking the bucktail, put that 
on the spinner and the ibis above it. I have 
sometimes found that in the middle of the day 
they would take only the ibis. If three flies are 
used, a good all-round cast is a red ibis spinner, 
bucktail and black, and with three casts, alter¬ 
nating the colors on the spinner, a man can cover 
all the hours of the day. That is my experience 
around here and I have caught many a small- 
mouth bass, and some of them good ones, too. 
The big-mouth often runs to seven pounds, but 
I would consider a three-pound small-mouth a 
good one. J. M. Rose. 
Flatbush, L. I., Feb. 22.— -Editor Forest and 
Stream: The letter from your Philadelphia 
reader, stating his inability to get bass on the 
fly, leads me to say'that the fault lies in either 
using flies too large, or not fishing in swift 
water. I must ask him to again read in my book 
the chapter on “Bass in the Beaverkill.” Then, 
after June 15 take a trip on the O. & W. railway 
to Cook’s Falls, as headquarters. Walk up the 
river about a mile by road, or, on the railway 
tracks to the first railway bridge. Just below it, 
the river divides, making an island. On one side 
is a series of long deep pools of swift water. In 
these pools there are bass and brown trout, big 
ones, that will rise to flies if the angler is un¬ 
seen. Let him cast far and fine with small flies, 
use a fine six-foot leader, with a black gnat, sil¬ 
ver doctor and coachman tied on No. 9 hooks. 
These same flies hook fish in rough, swift water 
that tumbles over boulders and rocks. 
Bass will take lures with the angler in full 
view, but they will not take a fly, even if they 
only see the rod. In lakes and ponds, bass will 
take flies only when they are feeding on flies at 
the surface, generally at, or after sundown. In 
quiet, deep water, use salmon methods, that is, 
use larger flies tied on No. 2 hook, with a shot 
to sink them. After casting, where you know 
bass to be, let the fly sink nearly to the bottom, 
then jerk the fly, first in short skips, then, in 
long pulls. In other words, tease them with 
bright gaudy flies. 
The late Wm. C. Harris enjoyed plenty of 
good fly-fishing in the Schuylkill River at a place 
called Yankee Dam, not more than one hour’s 
ride from Philadelphia. 
It is quite true, the bass is a fish more and 
oftener ready for bait than for fly, but when it 
does take the latter, it is a goodly sight. Seven 
times have they jumped, showing splendid 
powers of resistance, and well worth some little 
trouble to catch when in the humor. 
Louis Rhead. 
East Orange, N. J., March 1. — Editor Forest 
and Stream: Perhaps I can be of some assist¬ 
ance to your Philadelphia correspondent re¬ 
garding bass fly-fishing. I agree with'him in 
his deduction as to the shallow stream fishing, 
but not necessarily wading deep. The lake fly¬ 
fishing I gave up long ago, having gone through 
the same experience. 
The first of the season is the time, from the 
for Small-mouth Black Bass. 
middle of June until the second week in July. 
Any light-colored bass fly will do, such as 
royal-coachman, coachman, Parmacheene-belle, 
red-ibis, etc. I have had my best luck on the 
coachman and Parmacheene-belle, large flies— 
I have mine tied on No. 2/0 Cincinnati bass. 
Along in July use a Montreal as a dropper, raise 
the tip of the rod and give the dropper a “song 
and dance,” cast in where the rocks show along 
shore. I use a 6-foot leader and two flies, tail 
and dropper. 
Let Mr. Finletter take a trip up the Dela¬ 
ware, to Deposit or Hancock, engage his guide 
or boatman by writing the Erie railroad agent 
at either place, and ahead of time—they are 
hard to get—fish down stream, Deposit to 
Hancock, Hancock to Lordville and so on, say 
ten or twelve miles a day, stop over night where 
you quit, sending boat back by freight when you 
have had enough. 
I will guarantee that Mr. F. will have the 
sport of his life with Mr. Red Eye. A. J. Marsh. 
CAMP SUPPLIES. 
Camp supplies should include Borden’s Eagle 
Brand Condensed Milk. Peerless Brand Evapor¬ 
ated Milk and Borden’s Malted Milk, all of 
which contain substantial and compact nourish¬ 
ment, and supplying every milk or cream require¬ 
ment.— Adv. 
Where Loch Laddie Fly-fishes 
