160 Insect-Bait Fishing. 



Some use only one hook, a No. 5, and run it right 

 through the insect from tail to head. This makes a 

 very unsatisfactory bait ; for after a few casts, the 

 soft liquid contents of the body escape, and the 

 sides collapse, leaving merely the skin on the hook. 

 In a small burn, where the bait is merely dropped 

 over the bank, it is not so easily destroyed, but in 

 a river, where frequent casting is necessary, the 

 insect is speedily rendered unrecognisable, and 

 requires to be constantly renewed. 



Another method of fishing is to use two No. 3 

 hooks, tied back to back, with their barbs slightly 

 bevelled. An insect is impaled on each by insert- 

 ing the point at one side close to the head and 

 bringing it out at the other. As the head and 

 shoulders are the only hard portions of the bait, an 

 insect so placed will maintain its shape better, and 

 serve the angler's purposes much longer, than if 

 threaded on the hook from end to end. 



The tackle I prefer is a modification of the latter. 

 The hooks are the same, and placed back to back, 

 but so that one is three-eighths of an inch above 

 the other. The insects are put on each in the 

 manner just described. The object of this arrange- 

 ment is to give the bait a somewhat larger and 

 more attractive appearance in the eye of the fish, 

 and still to retain the double chance implied in 

 the double hook. 



