The Wilmingtonian. (Wilmington, Del.) 1882-188?, 1884-07-12

diameter of stout bodkin or packing nee
die, are fastened to the line. at points about |
eight inches apart. To the free extrcmities
of these are fastened the hooks. These are
baitcd and the line, being connected with
that from the reel, is cast into the stream in
4 suitable spot.
AS rule when bass seizes a bait he does
so with characteristic rush, which often
carries the rod bodily into the water, when
an absent-minded or careless fisherman has
allowed his attention to wander from it. |
mention it as curious circumstance, which
many brother angler can confirm, that
from some strange perversity, the moment
most favored by fish for seizing bait is
Just when the angler least expects the event.
He may have sat with his rod in his hand, in
a state of intense vigilance, for a couple of
hours but let him lay down his rod for
minute to eat sandwich, take a drink or
hunt up bait, and that will be the signal
for some wandering and perverse bass to
| bolt off incontinently with the baited hook.
Usually the angler seizes his rod too late,
when the fish has discovered the cheat and
disgorged the treacherous morsel, or the fish
| is imperlectly hooked and after splash and
leap out Of water, vanishes, leaving the
ishern an prey to the gloomiest kind of
remorse. Mark you too, that fish may have
| been mere half-pounder, but it will always
haunt him as a monster, high up in the
| pounds, the like of which he will never see
again.
| 1t is always bad job to lose fish after
hooking him. You may remove dozen
from pool and still others will so on biting,
but prick one ever so little with a hook and
he returns to his companions with stale of
the niger in the wood pile" which they are
not slow to heed. In such case it is best to
leave the pool at once and try your luck
elsewhere for an hour or two.
1t is better to lay your rod down than to
hold it in the hand. The steadest hand will
shake after holding heavy object for few
minutes, and the motion is communicated
to the sinller and hook with bad results,
Support the rod about midway on a forked
stick; see that the Inns runs clear from the
reel to the tip, and be ready to seize it OF
the instant of n bite. The bass does not
make two bites of his cherry; he gulpsa worm
or shrimp down at once, but spits it out
the instant the hook pricks his palate, SC
that an instant lost is a fish lost.
If you are lucky enough to hook your fish
on no account endeavor to pull him out al
once. Simply keep him clear of snags ant
tree stumps, and let him pull against the
| .r4 a
turns over on his side. If you pull wher
the fish pulls one of two things will happen
the tackle will break or you will wrench th,
hook from its Judgement in the fish's mouth
If the fish is anything over pound you ar,
t sure to lose him by. the 'snatching- him
, bald-headed" process. Take it easy
Better spend five minutes in firing goot
fish, than lose him by the unsportsmanlik'
effort to fling him out at once
] Every bass fisherman has his pet bait
One declares for CLAIMS; a second for fresh
} water mussels; a third for shrimps; fourtl
} for worms; while others will not 60 on
: unless furnished with can full Of ly,
nlinnows. The minnow is the most deadly
bait, but it is difficult to keep up hesupply
the heat Of the can and the pressure of til,
hook soon destroy them and when deat
they are useless In fishing with the min
: now stout cork float is necessary and TIL
7 hook should be smaller than in fishing will
$ other bats. Time must also be allowed 70
+ the bass to swallow II live bait ;half MINT
e is not too much. If you pull mp your lin
f when the bass first scizes the minnow 20,
y will lose both, beyond the shadow of
doubt.
Perfect quiet is essential. The rocks a
7 the waters edge shelve downwards to til
g bed of the creek, and the lightest football
o felt below. Do not fish too far out; you los
y control of your line, and the fish prefer til
] deep eddies near the bank, Keep out c
S sight. Fish are very keen sighted and
G you can see them, it it equally certain the
e can see you,a and will leave yout lure severed
g alone.
vi worms the best are the large stripe
variety called "brandlings'' found in manur
: heaps OF among decayed leaves. Chang
y the worms frequently for they soon die OF
the hook, and stale or broken bait tn
bass will not touch. Shrimps may be pro
. cured at the rate Of IS cents hundred O
MIR. Martin, 1401 French street. They are
y next to minnows the best bait for bass ant
y should be put on whole. If clans are pre-
= ferred the gills are the best portion. Suniisl
= will take CLANS in preference to any othe
q bait.
: In fishing for bass on or near tho bottom
!. the angler will be much annoyed with cat
4 fish and cells, both of which are immensely
= fond of all the bats used for bass fishin,
q and viii tax the anglers patience sorely
> There will be, of course, not few who will
welcome both to the basket, on account o
their edible qualities Some of the catGsl
caught this season have weighed three o
" four pounds, and cells Of the same weight ar,
common in flood, when bass fishing is o
course hopeless. But given clear day,
cool early morning, fine tackle and q cleai
stream and bass may be caught in plenty al
! the way from the Cemetery to Rising SUI
I Brdge-without going out of the legitimat,
Z limits Of the City of Wilmington. Two O.
the best pitches may be mentioned. TIL
first is a ledge of rocks on the south side Of
the Brandywine, one hundred yards below
the intake of the South Long Race A farm
house on the north bank is directly opposite
the ledge, and the eddy, which is about
eight feet deep is below the ledge, which
affords convenient seat The second good
pitch is a mile and half up the creek, also
on the south bank, and two hundred yards