The record-union., 1899-09-29

being the most gamey and affording
the greatest amornt of sport in its Gap
ture, and he may, perhaps without hes
itation, name the black bass. The bass
is truly an American fish. He is found
in all waters from Maine to Florida,
from the eastern coast to away out
west in Kansas and Nebraska Of
course, he is known by different names
in different localities, but he is always
the same as regards fighting abilities.
In reality the black bass tribe is di-
vided into two divisions only one COM
prising what is known as the large
mouth variety, and the other the
small MOUTH Both kinds are found
all over the country, sometimes in the
same waters. The small mouth is not
generally as large as his brother,
though he is sometimes found weighing
as much as six or six and a half
pounds. He ordinarily weighs from
one and a half to three and half,
while the large mouth averages little
more. Their fighting abilities, however,
are about the same The small mouth
is distinguished from the large mouth
by his smaller scales and smaller
mouth.
their luck at fishing by the fact that
the only fishing grounds to which they
have access are already crowded with
fishermen. This fact need not hinder
them in the least, for it is we'll known
that true fishermen will catch bass
where tenderfeet are catching dogfsh.
The bass is a sly fish, and his cunning
and fighting ability, when hooked, rem
der it doubly hard for the inexperienced
fisherman to land him.
The bass when hungry is voracious,
and it is surprising what a list of lures
and bats will bring him to the hook.
He will bite at anything from an angle
worm to a piece of pork rind, shaped
like a minnow, including frogs, grass
hoppers, minnows artificial flies and
even live mice. This democracy of taste
has much to do in rendering the bass
SO popular.
Casting is the most scientific way to
fish for bass, though some enjoy the
still fishing with minnows, when the
fish hide at the bottom of deep pools.
To cast properly requires lots of prac-
tice and patience. Tt is, in truth, an art,
to be acquired only by experience The
rod commonly used by fishermen is a
short, flexible one. A good-sized, easy
running reel, fastened either to the top
or the bottom of the rod butt and a
silk line, with leader and lures, COM
plete the outfit.
The bass, especially the large-mouth
variety is found frequently around the
edges of the Lakes, and the bait-caster
must send his bait in among the lily
pads and weeds, casting from his boat,
which should be at least fifty yards
from shore. With a quick movement of
the wrist, the fisherman lands his bait
among the weeds If there is a fish
there he seizes it the moment it de-
scends, and darts away to the bottom
with the lure in his jaws.
This is the time when an experienced
fisherman, seeing the line begin to run
out, slowly checks it, and with a. sharp
jerk fastens the hooks firmly in the
throat of the fish. Then follows the
battle, when the fish, running hither
and thither, endeavors to shake loose
| the hook, or to wind the line around
some weed. To avoid this, the boat is
turned out into the lake, away from
the shore, and not an inch of slack
! is allowed the fish as he rushes back
and forth. If the fisherman can man
| age to hold onto him until he is tired
out, he is easily landed with dip net.
Sometimes a fisherman casts his bait
near the weeds and no fish responds.
/ He then reels in his line, causing his
bait to skim along the surface of the
water. on the chance that some lurking
/ fish may snap it up. This very often
| happens. and is even more fun than
having the fish bite the moment it
j lands.
| The small-mouth bass are often
caught by fishermen, who, clad in rub
! ber boots. wade in up to their middle,
and walk down the river casting ahead
Of them with minnows. Fly casting is
much more difficult than bait casting,
and requires more skill. Probably the
/ best bass fishing in this country is
found in the Northwest but California
may soon be classed among the bass
! States, for the fish is already pretty
well distributed.