n6 PRACTICAL BAIT CASTING 



by the kind and size of fish likely to be caught. For 

 bass and pickerel sizes i-o to 4-0 in the sproat shape 

 and 22 to 1 8 in Cincinnati bass would be about right. 

 For game fish use good-sized minnows. One four 

 to six inches is none to large for bass and from four 

 to seven inches for pickerel or pike. A large bait is 

 more easily seen by the fish and its size gives casting 

 weight. 



Either prepared or dead minnows are often used 

 successfully with a device made for the purpose, such 

 as the Archer spinner, and in rapid streams they are 

 sometimes very attractive when threaded on the shank 

 of a plain hook so they are curved and will spin in the 

 water. Spoons and spinners improve a dead minnow 

 more than they do a live one. 



If a spinner is used with a live minnow it should 

 be of light weight. For use with large minnows few- 

 spoons equal the old favorite Delavan although the 

 cheap spear point hooks that come with it should be 

 replaced by better ones. This spoon is supplied with 

 two hooks, and a minnow is used on each. The meth- 

 od of baiting is to put the hook in at the minnow's 

 mouth, out through the gills, then inserting the point 

 near the tail. This is a good method for large min- 

 nows generally. 



Ordinarily the minnow is best in water fairly clear 

 of weeds, and this is fortunate because it enables the 

 caster to use light tackle. With a short stiff rod 

 there is always the probability of snapping off the 

 minnow or whipping the life out of it. We doubt if 



