102 PRACTICAL BAIT CASTING 



belly, on fast, clear streams for small mouth bass. 



The theory is to use dark plugs on clear days and in 

 clear water and light ones for dark days, but no hard 

 and fast rules can be followed. 



Most underwater baits are equipped with spinners 

 which should be kept well greased with vaseline. 

 When there are two spinners, one at each end as is 

 usually the case, they are made to spin in opposite 

 directions so as to not kink the lines, but it is safer 

 to use a swivel snap, nevertheless. 



SPOONS, SPINNERS, AND FLIES 



Various reasons are offered to account for the success 

 of the spoon or spinners as a lure. Some experts say 

 it is due to the irritating light rays it throws in the 

 eyes of the fish ; others that the fish looks upon the lure 

 as an invader threatening his commissary, and still 

 others claim that the fish mistakes it for a minnow or 

 food of some kind. While these theories are interest-* 

 ing, the mere fact that spinners and spoons catch fish 

 is of much more importance to most of us. 



The first bait of this character, so far as is known, 

 was used some time in the early part of the last cen- 

 tury. It was simply the bowl of a common teaspoon 

 with a hook soldered to the point or narrow end. A 

 hole was bored in the upper end by which it was fast- 

 ened to a straight piece of wire very similar in prin- 

 ciple, you will note, to what is used to-day. This 

 original spoon caught fish, but with the years improve- 



