BAIT'-FISHING. The second great subdivi sion of angling, which is again divisible into fresh-water fishing and salt-water fishing. For bait-fishing a stiff rod is required, varying in length and strength, as must the line, with the size and nature of the fish. In fresh-water fishing, the bait generally is sunk by attach ing a split shot, or other lead sinker, about a foot above the book, and a cork or quill float is attached to the line at a point which will allow it to float upon the surface of the water when the bait is at the desired depth. The bait varies, almost as much as does the fly in casting; for trout those commonly employed are worms, grasshoppers and minnows; for bass, minnows, the helgramite or dobson, crawfish, small frogs, grasshoppers, and crickets. For sea fishing of the ordinary nature, where the fish are not expected to weigh more than two pounds, a stout rod 8 or 10 feet long, with 100 yards of No. 12 Cuttyhunk and a strong single gut leader three feet long, a small float and 2-0 hooks, with shrimp or shedder crab bait, will lie found effective. From the 2-pound bluefish up to the giant tarpon, which is occasionally yet caught by 'still-fishing,' bait-fishing passes through a wide variety.
Bait-casting is a variety of bait-fishing in which the sinker and float are discarded: as in angling for black bass the rod should be from S to 10 feet long, weigh not more than S ounces, and have a first-class multiplying reel attached. The minnow is hooked and reeled up to within a foot or two of the tip of the rod. Then, with the thumb pressing firmly on the spool of the reel, to prevent the rendering of the line, a steady sweeping motion is made, from below, upward, increasing in strength and swift ness until the arm and rod are fully extended. Just before the rod reaches its greatest elevation the thumb is released from the spool of the reel, and a final impulse given to the bait, which is propelled toward the objective point at an angle varying from 20 to 50 degrees, according to the distance to be east. During the east the thumb must keep a gentle but uniform pressure on the spool, to prevent back-lashing or over-running. \\'hen the bait reaches the aimed-at spot the reel is stopped by a stronger pressure of the thumb. See ANGLING; FLY-CASTING; TROLLING.