The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-12-19
BASS FISHING IN TIE SURF.

From the New Yor, Post.
What is surf fishing? 1t is standing
OF the shore and casting out over the
breakers and fishing in the open sea.
The game the surf fisher is after
is striped bass, although bluefish
and weakfish are not disdained. 1t Is
the gamy and noble bass that alone
counts in the surf fishers record of his
seasons triumphs.
The surf fisher is rugged out with
stiff, strong rod, a reel carrying from
six hundred to nine hundred feet OF
fine linen line, and handforged steel
hooks. from number five to seventy. at
tached to four-ply leader, and carry
ing a pear-shaped lead sinker OF
from five to seven ounces In
weight Thus accoutered, and hav-
ing blood or worms, shed
der crabs or mullets for bait, according
to the time of the year and other cir
cumstances, the surf-fsher is ready for
business. Having baited his hook, and
standing on the shore just far enough
from the inroiling waves TO prevent
them from running over the tops OF his
hip-high boots. he makes his east.
That is, he sends the sinker, with lead
er and hook attached, almost as swift
as a rife shot over the boiling surf to
drop into the sea one hundred or one
hundred and fifty feet from where he
stands The object is to cast the bait
beyond the breakers, where 1t is per-
mitted TO sink TO the bottom. The fish
erman then reels in the SLACK until he
is in touch with the sinker and waits
for a bite. The incoming surges grad
ually sweep the bait and sinkcr in to-
ward the shore, and the fisherman
slowly reels in the slack.
The most likely place for strike is
in the midst OF the breaking. boiling
surf. where the bottom IS churned up
By the tumultuous water, and the sea-
bugs, sandworms and the other feed
the sharp-eyed bass is eagerly search
ing for are exposed 10 view. Quick as
flash, before the alarmed fry can hide
themselves in the sand, the alert bass
Is upon them. 1t is while the bait OF
worm or crab, on the end OF the color
less leader, IS whiTling about n this
naelstrom of sand and water that the
bass seizes IT. The fisherman suddenly
feels a sharp tug. He pauses moment
To feel more pronounced jerk, and
then gives a quick, energetic strike
One single moments pause, as though
the startled fish into whose mouth the
barbed hook has deeply sunk was mo-
mentarily paralyzed by fright, and
then a rush, like a runaway horse, that
'-rattles" the novice out OF al control.
and tries while IL thrills the nerve OF
the most experienced angler.
II II is big bass, say from ten 20
thirty pounds, il viii, IN It's first
startled run. take from fifty 10 three
hundred feet of line While it i. thus
rushing seward, the cool and skillful
veteran wiz press his thumb upon TIE
reel Just strong enough 20 put as
strong curb as possible upon the fish
without enGsnEering the line This,
and dragging nearly half pound of
Lad hanging from its Jaws. tires the
.Sn pretty 1ast. ana a. tns end OF its
Erst rush IL may be reeled IN. b. care
ful and no; too rapid reeling. almost 20
Z the shore. Bat as soon az u gets near
N4t dA4G sr7Fa1 TIC NA.~N+ 49, NN%t
has. Is again seized with a panic. and
/ makes another long and powerful run
/ This performance is repeated. with
7 variations. again sad again. The aim
ot the fisherman Is 10 tire oct and
drown the bass. when he NAY be
landed Any attempt % reel hIn IN
T BIZ brute strength a. any time before
this state OF exhaustion and col
lapse occurs would simply result IN
+ losing the fsh and about ore dollar 5
worth ot tsckling attachment No
F line that VIII ailog six hundred teet -
. she reei = strong 81 O=yh . pal n a
ten-Pozud tzss n good health and
strength against Eis vii u requires
{ fine work. rare judgment and grsz.
/ ---ssens4s al End sucesssfz.I- - pay