THE IMPROVED FLOATING NATURE LURES 139 



played under water in rapid darts, and quick 

 flashes along near the surface or down below. For 

 lake fishing, especially, they will attract bass if 

 you place split shot on the leader and allow them 

 to sink near the bottom, making animated rod- 

 tip jerks. Personal choice will dictate how many 

 flies to place on the leader. I generally prefer a 

 single fly on the leader to at times fish it dry at 

 the surface, but when I feel sure a number of bass, 

 or even trout, are congregated together in a pool, 

 I use two, and sometimes three, flies frequently 

 to get a "double." Such a thing occurs mostly 

 when one fish is hooked and running about; the 

 swift movement of the remaining flies attract 

 other fish to them, and they, too, get hooked. A 

 situation of this kind requires most careful hand- 

 ling to get both fish properly netted. 

 The latest darter minnows both for bass and 

 trout are all made with the hook placed right 

 under the vent, \nz., about the middle of the 

 belly, with as strong and large hooks as the bait 

 permits. Anglers will find them superior in several 

 ways to the spinning minnow s of soft rubber and 

 gang-hooks. These hooks are objectionable be- 

 cause of the difficulty in releasing several treble 

 hooks; also the spinning causes much trouble in 



