The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-12
FOR BASS FISHERMES.
Tho Rods, the Reels, and the bait to he
Used In Taking Black Bass.

A letter came to THE SUN tho other day from
q man in Akron, o., who wanted to know the
outfit of tackle with which black bass shonld
be taken. II want one that will handle q six.
pound black bass in northern Michigan" he
said. The black bass in northern Michigan are
as lively as any found anywhere. and livclier
than the fish taken in warmer regions. so a
good stout outfit is required. This man Is
going to have two outfits, one for his wife and
one for himself.
II the woman is used to fishing. she should
have a lighter rod than the man. but should
che be new to the art, as heavy, or heavier.
tackle would be better. The black bu IS fish
ermen say that trout are n pretty game fish,
and put up a tolerably good fight. but for right
down splash the-water. smssh-ths-rod break
the-line. tear-out-the. hook hveliness. the bass
Il ahead OF any other fish that swims, and in
support Of their claims they say that it takes
n hea vier rod. line, and leader. bigger hooks,
and greater skill to get a black bass into ones
crcel than to land a trout.
OF course. the bass should be found in cold
streams, where there are riffs and falls and
pools, all rock bound, or in a lake where the
water is cold, pure, and sweet enough to drink
such streams, for instance. as one finds over
in Pennsylvania and other States OF noun
famous character-as in warm water any fish
is soft and unable To put up a fight.
The black bass, big and small mouthed. are
nsh OF prey. and for fish Of prey lures are re-.
quired that resemble their natural food. They
do not care much for worms and other easily
captured stun from the bottom, as does the
sucker, but, prefer to dash into a school Of
them after II race. While doing this the fish
seems 10 have as much fun as a deer hunter
hnngrys 4 bait as good a as any is the live min:
now. The mlnnows are taken with nets usual
Va la f fpH@ % %f sP'", ths sy's %srs driven RfSe '9 BE- n ,ss
bass. They may also be taken OF small hooks
No. q or $ sproat; say-and with a worm for
shot. The hook is removed from the Victims
lays with care to prevent injury and then the
holds anywhere from TWO to twelve or more
quarts; There is,R strainer pail inside that con
,HinS the bait; which may be taken ont SO that
ger the pail the longer The interval between
changes OF water providing there Is the same
well back In the jaw with the big one nought
bass hook, and then cast out thirty or forty
wound in slowly on the reel. In trolling the
hook is trailed along from seventy five TO a
ins anywhere rom rom me ners iSH.c ttt to one. fourth
Of an ounce is used in casting.
The sinkeEs arc In many forms; long. with
tn the, line, and split buckshot or tea lead
wound on the. line. The minnows. are sup
posed not To sink more than three feet below
the waters surface ms n rule, the same apply
Ing TO most of the other baits, though crawtsh,
hel!gramites, worms, &c. prove better nearer
a variety II artificial minnows can be found
In tho market, and with these may he classed
tbs, silver, copper, and gold trolling spoons.
with red bowls, which are probably mistaken
for small tshi 4 peculiar artificial, minnow
Il u AIDE from the tough skin OF the sole-a fish
found IN English waters. Tho sole Is taken and
skinned, the skin vanished. and then sewed
up along the back and lifted with a gang of
hooks and a metal spinner" the same as tho
silk minnow. 1t Is more durable than the silk
ono and more natural. II costs about seventy
hye cents which is hfteon cents more than the
SIX one. \ three-foot leader Is used IN all
men Is tfat In trolling they use too few swtvels
.,hGit a dozen keep the limo smooth bette'k
than one or two.
Casting spoons are for casting the same rs
casting, ana they have each hut a single hook,
on WHICH Is sometimes put II niece az bait, so {
the 1sh strikes. but the fuuk misses, IL Will
have hhl a taste that will make II try again,
AIlhiiuWs,, SINAI green frogs best among lily
pais along shornl mice, hc~lggalnttes small birds.
req Manned, chunks Of salt pork or beef cut In
stflp5 IKE mlnnnWa, worms, Crawfsh, bass ms,
ora piece or pickerel's belly, grasshoppsrs, and
small fTesh-water cells, and huge files or darn,
ing needles, tied on No, / hooks, have been used
SUCCESSFULLY In bait fishing or trolling for bass,
Fly hshlng Is somewhat similar "a, trout
are lied on No. 8 or / hoohs instead OF No. o or
.. brlSht nles are most success sful-ihis, Sill
yer doctor, red miller, yellow sallies, aud so on.
ne MES IN No, J hooks are usod IN trolling
Tho best lines for bait fishing are a good deal
dilerent from those usod IN iy fishing. the
ny line Is a sitter one, having Il tendency 20
stralShten out, hut the bait line must be sort,
the least friction possible. II is black, water
proof. and. braidsd-the twisted lLRe unravels,
kinks, and does other things fishermen do not
IKE IhA hnsI known a. the "organizine