FISHING TECHNIQUE 11 



in slowly to imitate a live fish or other natural bait. The art of bait 

 casting demands some practice, but almost anyone can soon manage 

 to get the lure out to some distance and drop it where a fish should be. 

 Backlashes will occur, but after some practice and by using the thumb 

 for a brake many can be eliminated. Reel the lure in slowly, allowing 

 it to hesitate every few feet in case some doubting fish needs time to 

 make up his mind. 



In trolling, too, it is important to give the fish plenty of opportunity 

 for striking at the bait. Fishes may strike if you troll too fast, but they 

 often miss the hook. Sometimes they overshoot and are hooked in the 

 tail instead of in the proper place. When trolling let out from seventy- 

 five to a hundred or more feet of line. It is well to keep twenty-five to 

 fifty feet of line in reserve on the reel. 



The array of lures displayed by the average sporting store may be 

 bewildering. Most of the many kinds displayed are only modifications 

 of several basic types. The main purpose of all lures is to present an 

 imitation of some natural food animal or to make such a bewildering 

 flash that no respectable game fish can resist it. Any lure that has 

 plenty of action when drawn through the water has possibilities, be- 

 cause game fish are largely attracted by motion. One type of lure 

 utihzes spinner combinations. Spinners may be combined with various 

 artificial flies, bucktails, or hooks baited with live minnows or pork 

 strips. The spoon types are very popular for northern pike and many 

 other fishes. Spoons come in a large assortment of colors and in various 

 sizes. Some people are very particular about color, but the writers 

 doubt that most fishes are so particular. The authors have often used 

 brightly colored spoons until the paint was worn off and yet the 

 spoons continued to be as attractive as when new. 



Wooden baits or plugs are made in a wide variety of forms. Some 

 imitate a minnow and become submerged when in action. Others skim 

 over the surface and a fish striking at them must break water with a 

 spectacular splash. Any wooden lures with sufficient action have pos- 

 sibilities. One kind that has become very popular dives deep into the 

 water and darts swiftly from side to side. Some of these lures are 

 made in small sizes suitable for a fly rod. The hooks on various lures 

 tend to become dull after long usage and a hard-striking fish may not 

 become hooked. The hooks should be frequently inspected and sharp- 

 ened with a small whetstone or file, which should be part of every 

 fisherman's equipment. 



All artificial bait-casting lures should be fastened to the line by a 

 strong wire leader combined with a swivel. The line may be selected 

 to suit the fisherman's taste. Braided and nylon lines are popular. 

 Better casting can be done with a lighter line, those of twelve to eight- 

 een pounds' test proving most satisfactory, although some use even 



