The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-15
HOW TO CATCH
THE
STRIPED BASS.
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Anglers Of this city who religiouSly
read The Call for information concerning
a Fpastime which affords enjoyment to
several members of the so-called gentle
art fraternity were agreeably surprised
on scanning over last weeks sorting de-
partment to learn that the near future
sport of the angler would be the hooking,
playing and the landing of the game
striped bass.
To the credit of the Deputy Fish Com
mfssiOners, Messrs. Wilson and Cross, be
it said that through their untiring eff
forts the manner of capture of the bass
has been discovered In this bay. Wilson,
with whom every angler of any note is
acquainted, has, for the past two years,
devoted much Of his valuable time in re-
search. He has prospected for striped
bass in San Pablo Bay and in many of the
lagoons and estuaries Indigenous 10 the
bay, but without any degree of success
until recently, when fortune finally
crowned his perseverance and efforts.
In the last month Wilson has success
fully hooked and landed several large
bass by means of trolling with a wilson
spoon and still fishing. The latter method
he, however, has proved TO be the most
successful. In a chat with the expert on
bass fishing recently Mr.. Wilson said;
These striped bass are darned cunning
fellows, and unless you are well up IN the
game of hit and stick you will lose more
fish than anglers generally care TO part
with. We Ir1eO every huONIl QSNlCe Lo1
their capture, and until within the. last
few weeks L have been literally Off the
track.
and the black bass had similar ways of
feeding, but those ideas have very ma
teriany changed within the past few
weeks. Experience, of course, teaches,
and through experience I have discovered
that the striped bass is at least 100 per
cent more artful cuss than his fresh
water brother, commonly known as the
black bass. Why, the striped bass will
dodge away from the shadow Of sea-
gull's wing. The sound of an oar or the
shadow of a boat will scare the striped
crab and clam eater half out OF its wits.
You can say without the least fear OF
contradiction that TO be successful fish
erman for anadromous bass you must
have great patience and use first class
Judgment in the selection OF tackle and
also in the knowledge (Which can only be
your charm to his royal bass-ship.
The striped bass Will not acknowledge
by touch any old thing. | have tried all
manner Of lures, but until of very recent
date 1 failed to hit upon the morsel Mr..
Bass fancies most. A few weeks ago
learned that striped bass were being
who troled with a spoon by the light of
the moon. The fish taken, afterward
casonally a big fellow would hook on
and as a rule clean out the midnight fish
erman completely of fishing gear.
LAS I care little for moonlight fishing
I Will not dwell much on that subject but
from what little success have had with
the striped bass l Will endeavor to give
you an idea of what I consider the most
successful contrivance for their capture.
In the first place 1 consider the ordinary
stiff rod used for steelhead fishing good
enough for Mr. Bass. A good reel which
will contain 100 yards of strong line is in
dispensable. The hook, a No. 6, should
be of the very best material. use a box
swivel attached about twenty inches from
the hook TO the line and above the swivel
is my egg-shaPed lead with a hole
through its center, so that the line can
run freely through it when the bass
strikes the bait and makes his first run.
must strike quick and hard. otherwise
Mr.. Bass will drop the bait the instant he