62 FISHERMAN'S LURES 



Even if I take it from the mouth it often happens 

 that the fish in a testy humor will again make a 

 dart and take it more securely. Then again, the 

 fish may be scared and refuse to repeat the strike, 

 so that after a while I cast to new pastures. My 

 argument goes to show that fish go for my baits, 

 live or artificial, in precisely the same way as they 

 go for their natural food, which causes them to 

 take it swiftly or slowly, or not at all. This also 

 goes to show that if fish are not feeding on natural 

 food they are very much less inclined to take a 

 proffered bait, be it the real thing or an imitation. 

 I have never found the stomach of bass, pickerel, 

 or pike so full as that of trout. For one thing, bass 

 are deeply engrossed in looking after their young 

 through May and June, at the time insects are 

 abundant and trout gorging. After June, trout 

 feed about normal, like the bass. In large waters 

 like Lake George and Lake Champlain there are 

 several great rises of insects during July and 

 August, sometimes later. Vast clouds of both 

 duns and drakes appear during warm days, yet 

 this remarkable abundance of insect flight over 

 the surface does not attract the bass to any ex- 

 tent. Just a few may be seen, now and then, but 



