The New York herald., 1921-09-25

| have written much regarding the at
tractivity OF autumn bass fishing and yet
have not said enough. The bass OF late
autumn Is no more like the same fish in
midsummer than sutry dog days are like
zcstful October. Indeed ! have had great
good luck fishing for small mouth even
well along toward November, though
must confess that that Is somewhat un-
usual However. when tho cunning season
IS at its best few anglers think or flshing,
consequently do not know what they miss.
When the fringed gentian. that beautiful
and they autumn flower, sladdens the deep
glades Of the purple and gold woods bass
are at their best. To me the fringed gen
tian bass are real as the flowers after
which | have named them.
Autumn bass fghters.-To the man ac-
uuainted with bass In July and August the
October bronze back comes as revelation.
Where fish are now fighters In midsummer
I have had them leap from five TO eight
times In October II the other fellow
would let them alone ! would be glad 70
put off my fishing until the fringcd genital
month. The zest and tang Of the early
rro5ts seem to have permeated the water
and SO stirred the sluggish blood Of the
bass. While I think the small mouth are
more quick TO respond to tho thrill OF the
falling temperature the large mouth also
are not uninflucnced. Last autumn, on
slugsish river, I had great sport with big
mouth, the fish leaping with all the vim
and gusto Of small mouth In the extreme
north. In midsummer the few bass taken
from that water were lazy, unenthusiastic
fiAh. Ihe only way 4 can account lot tNelr
change OF temper i the change In temper
aturc. I was the only angler on the water
Up and down the river duck hunters were
plentiful. Sometimes they padded their
shallow crafts past my position, smiling
pityingy. no doubt thinking that was
some silly old fool too old to hunt ducks.
Could they have beheld the bronze backed
secret Of my live box would they have re-
garded me az an "old fool?' I trow not.
X was not the taking OF many fish that
was 90 attractive but the battle each put
up that held me TO the fishing while the
hunters banged and roared above and be-
low me.
A Plea for Small Baskets.--r limit myself
TO elk bases, never exceeding the Number by
a single iln. The time has come when all
true disciples q Walton must stay their
greedy hands. II Is not all OF fishing to
catch fish. IN late autumn when the bass nrs
mad 20 strike az anything that moves and
flutters upon the surface or strs deep down
IN the depths, y behooves the true sportsman
70 limit his basket religiousy. The day has
long past when man should take all the
law allows just because lie knows how and
when and where 70 fish The autumn fisher
man should be ashamed 20 show himself Mt
| home with over siN bass, and nc could shave
hmssf more Satisfactorily if he never took
over two pair. ] know am regarded n
crank upon this question, hut VI our sons and
daughters are 70 enjoy any fishing at all we
must provide for Il by not taking all we can
get away with. Why this prenchment here9
Because Il - needed as a warning 70 autumn
fishermen unacquainted with the fall temper
Of the bass.
anglers employ plugs than the more
satisfactory bass bugs, though there are cold
days in late autumn when the surface bugs
are utterly unattractive, and the angler
must so down after the bronze backs with
underwater lures. On warm, bright days
the floung bugs win be found uniformly
attractive. y. though author Of Casting
l'Tacile and Methods" Wish 10 say here that
I rot more sport out % bass bugs because
I can handle them with my fly rod and n
bass on n fly rod is a different proposition
from n bass on even the ligitcst Of casters.
III dcrEtand. my casters are light ultra light,
rod. ! have found the more striking coors