New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-31
CATCHING BLACK Bass
A GAME FISH AS WORTHY OF ANc,r,.
AS TROUT.


HE REQUIRES PECULIAR TREATMENT ure ~
ITS AND TRICKS TO ESCAPE HIS cAprops
The season for black bass fishing onens.
terday In all the waters OF this State -"
the dozen or more species OF game food fishes 40 @
Atlantic Coast In fresh and salt water nora ~
been found to excel If indeed any eoya,. "s
cunning, aertness and stubborn fighting s,ra,.
the black bass Of our fresh-water rivers ana ~
New-York and adjoining States contain scor.. !.
ponds and creeks where one who has learned -.
subtle ways and erratic tastes Of the fish ,, a.
land good strings. The St Lawrence and IFS ,r,s.
taries, Lakes Champlain. George Otseyo. the ns,s
waters of the Susquehanna, the Schuylku ana -.
Delaware and small sheets of water too manv :.
name nearer home In Sullivan and Ulster oo,r,..
contain some spots that offer rare pleasure (ras,
wood Lake is old and favorably known.
The ideal baitrod is ten-ounce split bamhoo =.
lancewood and should be nine or nine and haf ~.
in length. fiy-casting rod is lighter perhaus ~
seven or seven and half ounces, and for cas-,
work ought to be ten feet long Use the lgh,st
silk waterproof line in the market, and rsmi
multiplying plain rubber reel holding seventy.sv.
yards The most successful hooks for bait.s,h.
ing are the No 5. OF either Limerick or spro.,
shape. strongly snelled with treble strands OF eu,
There is no need TO dwell at length on the dinersn,
live bats. for the kinds the locality where Won
happen to fish must decide. Wherever and when
ever one can obtain crawfsh, helgrarites larrs
black crickets young frogs. he is sure OF a COCA
lure Minnows are difficult TO transport and ken
alive requiring constant care, but they will TENN
bass on days when nothing else attracts Common
garden worms are easy to get to carry and to keen
and are, in the long rum probably the reliable
bait In all regions.
Infinitely pretter and comfortable TO uss
than any form Of living bait are the artificial
minnows and spinning spoons. The former are
made OF waterproof silk or metal coorei so as to
closely initiate the living thing. Among the very
best are the CALIFORNIAN, Phantom and Devon. sod
at an average price OF 70 cents. Selecting medium
size say No. ) or 6. be sure to get with short
shank so that the lower end Of the spoon just playa
above the barbs OF the treble hooks Then more
seldom will you foul weeds and grasses, and more
frequently will you hook the fish that escape from
the long-shanked makes A single split shot must
always De attached to the line about foot from
either artificial minnow or spoon TO sink 1t SUI.
fciently below the surface Yet Notwithstanding
the beauty and simplicity OF the tackle now made
and the convenience OF using these bats there
many anglers who would not for moment con.
ana briant-hued artificial n.y. once having oeea
taught the little feathered things that coax
big bass from overhanging reeds ana rock win 80
slight an effort the fisher. II Is hard TO coma
back TO any other way. II needs no profound
thought or long practice 10 cast, and TO cast er.
tremeiy We. at that. The flies are sunk be.ow. not
trailed along the surface, as N salmon Or
trout fishing, ami are not moved so rapidly n
fishing rapid-running streams wadlng Is the Only
sure mode Of reaching all the whtrs and curves
in the current where II sweeps under clay oann
or curls around uplifting rocks ana stunys .
Under no circumstances does the black bass FEED
upon carrion. Bait that even appears dead Is there.
fore useless. All articles must be so cohtlyei ~
TO simulate real. stirring life, something mar y
breathing ard Is trying 70 escape. IL leeos ohX
during the morning and evening hours Al noon
lies torpid in some cold grotto at great ael,a,
protected from the heat OF ue sun 80
fish from dawn III 10 IN rhe h deset 9ssd he
shoal water, running up often among the sses
where the de9h Is sss 5sa Of &he SS is Vita
smccessf,I bait-casting or stillfshng: When Ms
bass has sprung upon ana selzesS rs p, nsssntSey
~ does not swallow at once. Hence tne lrequssns
complaint Il have plenty OF nites ot ne critical
an eS Hha1 The fish has snatched an end OF tns
froS or minnow and is holding / In his AVS T I'M
men out Of every ten ara" the bait from the hook
isaving the alarmed bass 70 escape WIFE ne rs, ssi
Instead OF lettns nm on 80 Simply wait When
he has gorged the morsel ne VIII S1' nhen your
FORTY or nfty feet Of line ana NJ" Give him
pay, and as you bend back your roa YOU when he
bi1, snring dripping from the waleT s,n sIsck ar
mn ton must lower your tip 10 give mn a. ~
H Kin free himself This fish Is capaoieh % ne ~
ne -, nexpectei and startling wiles PeInss ss
mes Aingly along FOR thirty feet 1nen sI an
Tenly pnge back so TO part ea:er or Inn, me tear
unwatchfu fisherman Asai LID n hat the reel
not Keep all the slack. and this IS ms I1s Il except
~ ~, trick There Is no guarding aSansSs sr,v hum
S to have rapdmgtpsT and Sn @aEe he i f boat
Not infrequenty they dye non have an anchor
o ontp ten e to- VIII run a 70 When within
sharp-edged rocks are resST' Glitch they will t1
reach. on the keen points OF WHO" WV
70 choose hoe II You can day when mere so conceal
,nrllo,Syemcnts Let the sun be before wi wind Any
careful 10 cast with. not AGAINST, ' Is signal Of
vaa,'s,,al or unnatural phenomenon Is = ssh Cast
anor 20 these everwatchfu ynX-eyea ~, YOU are
from deep water toward the shG ga DEPTH lent abruptly
trolling aon bout two to perhaps twenty Zee. kss
out two rods Win light flies sS oys1 sas&
he other y Tih oD one day. in the morning q9s
tse Conditions Of Wind and water Sass Nothing
Freely on frogs Perhaps In me ,a,nS day worms
or fbeloranes prove the only food they variety Of
is readily 10 be seen that the sgith,ities OF good
halt carried the greater the posslO'N