NEW LURES THAT ARE TRUE TO LIFE 



are not successful in the waters I favor — that is, a 

 deep sluggish river with rocky bottom, like the lower 

 Beaverkill and the upper Delaware round about 

 East Branch. 



I have repeatedly seen bass follow up various 

 artificial lures for some distance without making a 

 strike. The same thing happens, at times, with the 

 painted minnows with metal fins to make them spin. 

 On the other hand, with a supply of live minnows, 

 crawfish, or lampers, one can go to a pool and often 

 capture a dozen bass that will average over two 

 pounds' weight, almost any time of day in late July, 

 August and September. But live bait in sufficient 

 quantities is most difficult to procure. 



This non-success of hooking a fish is not due to 

 my inability in casting a lure. I can cast a lure, 

 as I do a fly, dry or wet, quite delicately and far 

 enough to catch bass or trout. Others have had the 

 same experience. I met a man wading the stream, 

 casting a wooden painted lure of well-known make, 

 and I could see by the way he cast that he was ex- 

 pert at the game. In answer to my question, 

 "What luck?" he said that he had not got a single 

 strike. I took him to a sand-bar nearby, and a con- 

 veniently hidden spade, and together we dug a few 

 lamper eels. He immediately caught a three- 

 pound bass. "Now," said he; "I know bass are 

 here." 



I have no desire to try to persuade thousands of 



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