The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-06-17

sequently the care of the parent fsh during
the first two weeks OF the fry's existence is
absolutely necessary, for with almost the mrs!
expansion of their gills they must be taught
TO feed and be protected while feeding. Many
a time, Just after the spawning season, have
anglers watched the wonderful exhibition OF
instinct of these fish. Lying on the sur
face of an overhanging rock, with just ms
head beyond Its edge, the angler looks intently
into.the limpld water below and sees com
pact multitude of tiny fish no longer than his
nail. Closely huddled together they seemed
alone but another glance revealed within an
easy dash the mother fish earnestly and Argus
eyed watching her young. Some two yards
away, lust where the water vegetation becomes
scanty, as the bottom of the lake breaks up
into rocks, lies with his head and body hidden
and nothing but his ugly snout protruding
into view, the vile, savage fresh water shark
the pckerel. Apparently without motion,
like an hour hand to clock, he moves tor
ward to his prey. HIS only hope of success
lies in sudden dash from his lair. He dares
not show himself until ready for his spring
because owing to his anatomy being SO long
a fish-he is Obliged to make his spring from
point not further from the bottom than near
Ily the length of his body. If he shows HIM
sell ralSpu IRON tUc UOltOll thS viz uAoshNA
bass over on the lookout, catches glimpse OF
him, quick AS thought, with dorsal fin set like
buzz saw, she dashes beneath her foe and
leaves him disembOwelled. Another enemy OF
the black bass is the perch, but she is fully
able to cope with it.
ON THE FLY.
Every one knows that angling par ercettence
is fishing with the fly, 1t is a beautiful sight
L. all an,rlar
in all branches, make his graceful cast, ana
with charming precision effect the strike. AT
first it IS difficult TO believe that there Is any
connection between the rod and the series OF
somersaults so far away in midake; but soon
the tish settles down to business and the circus
on a string has ended He then tries for the
deep water, punging violently down In MS
perpendicular rush until he has put himself
thirty good feet nearer to China than the &C.
cupant of the boat. Unless the anchor line
has been pulled up hundred to one he Will
run foul of 1t and make his lucky and 60 on
shaking his sides with laughter. But should
the proper precautiOn have been taken the llsli,
by fits and starts, either sulks near the bottom
or INDUCES in merry 60 FOUNDERS, testing TO
the utmost the strength of the tackle and nerve
and skill of the angler Dancing across the
surface of the lake, after the manner OF
Il
bling line as it cuts the water, he makes ter
rife rushes, until at last the line is shortened
and the landing nets lifts the half drowned
fish from II watery grave.
LIVE AND ARTIFICIAL BATS.
The greater the variety of live bait that can
be procured the better the chances OF success
1t is quite impossible to know why black bass
on different DAYS or at different hours OF the
same day, with no apparent change in any OF
the circumstances of the general situation,
should take eagerly minnows, then refuse
them for grasshopper or decline both and bite
on helgramlte. 1t is known that the best an
gers take into their boats rs many different
1 kinds of bait rs possible. From observations
4 taken on the waters above mentioned the FOL
slowing classification OF live bats is made ac
cording to merit Helgramite, blue backed
club, sinner, brown sucker, frog, crawfsh
/, shrimp, green grasshopper, cricket and worm
i Small artificial bats, unless kept constantly
In motion either by trolling or skittering, or
perhaps cast into water that Is ia violent mo-
ton, are worthless In word, one could nc
more catch black bass with rubber OF
wooden bait lying still in the water than d
coniectloner could prevail on his customers tC
eat rubber ice cream. The bass may make q
sudden dart at one of these moving counter
, feits and be hooked, but you may never hope
to have him do more than look COntcmptuous
!, " at one at rest There are cart loads of these
bats in all possible variety at the tackle shops
they may take anglers, but they rarely TAXI
!, fish.
u FLIES AND TROLLING BATS.
The most deadly trolling bait is known ~
, the minnow gang, composed OF an arrange
I ncnt of triple hooks, around which live
: minnow Is fastened. Nearly every one usc'
hooks OF too large a size. Probably the best
5 mlnnow gang is known rs Seth Green's
Among the various trolling spoons the hes
2 by tar is the tluted spoon. The artificial min
nows which are best are the Devon or Ange
and the Phantom; the former is made OF pref
5 ty heavy metal ana naturally SINKS little he
t low the surface The latter is made of thick
8 silk and will keep on the surface, even wheI
!, trolled quite slowly. The best fly fishing nau
) gurates the season For the waters Throughout
the northern and eastern portions of the Uni
tied States the following flies will be found
good: st. Patrick, Fureerson, Wood, Abbey
Grizzley King, Lightning Bug, Army Worm
all four styles of the Ashy, Ibis, CoaChman
Orange Miller and DR.. Fowler; and for the
dark flies, which, though not generally good
yet at times are wonderfully taking the best
arc Alder, Silver Black and Black Palmer.
4 So conflicting are the reports received from
different lakes, many emanating from unreli'
able and interested sources, that Herah re-
porter called yesterday upon Mr. Charles f.
Imbric, OF Abbey Il Imbric, who Is known to
be one of the best and most successful black
bass anglers ia the country, and he kindly
contributed the following information: Every
thing up to the first of May looked more ia
vorable for good sport than for wears past hut
the first three weeks In May were so cold and
raw that the early prOsDects have been yery
much dimmed. 1t will take about two weeks
of bright, clear warm weather toput us where
we would now TIC IN ordinary years. Unques-
tionably, however there are more young bass
than ever before, and during the past winter
any bass who had the slightest amount of en-,
terprise about HIM, ought to have been able to
have lived well and grown fat
The name of those going black bass fishing
this season is legion, and there will not be "A