CASTING LURES 101 



in air, sometimes taking it with a second rush as 

 vicious as the first. 



I am often asked if the striking of the lure upon 

 the water does not have a tendency to frighten bass 

 and so defeat the very purpose for which created. 

 An absolute answer is, of course, impossible, for the 

 observer can not see all that is taking place beneath 

 the surface. I much doubt if one out of say ten 

 bass, are frightened away. I have been a careful 

 and painstaking student-angler for years and my 

 notes record few incidents of plain fright. My 

 method has been as follows : When a bass has mani- 

 fested his presence by leaping for natural food, I 

 have put my craft within casting distance, almost 

 always getting a response instantly. 



Once when casting on a narrow river I saw a large 

 bass leap close to the far bank, and then glimpsed 

 him as he darted beneath a log. The water was 

 perfectly, almost abnormally clear. I cast well be- 

 low the log, where the fish had been feeding. In- 

 stantly I saw him dart out from the other side and 

 dash away. Manifestly that fish was frightened 

 by the splash of the lure, though perhaps he had 

 captured the object which had first attracted his 

 attention and argued that a second splash was 

 suspicious, which would be attributing a high order 

 of intelligence to a mere fish. I presume the real 

 reason for the fish's flight was because he caught a 

 glimpse of my arm movement; furthermore, he may 



