156 PRACTICAL BAIT CASTING 



One method of attracting fish is to "bait" a certain 

 piece of water. This is done by marking off a cer- 

 tain part of the lake or stream with buoys or stakes 

 and in these confines throwing over cut-up fish, mor- 

 sels of meat, dead minnows, worms, and other fish 

 foods. Of course in doing this the proportion of small 

 fry to sizeable game fish attracted is bound to be high. 



A still better way is to build what one might call 

 a "fish retreat." A good permanent retreat can be 

 built of 2 x 2's or 2 x 4*8. Take four pieces a little 

 longer than the average depth of the water after mak- 

 ing allowance for driving one end into the bottom. 

 Paint them a bright red or scarlet, using good paint, 

 preferably two coats. When they are dry, sharpen one 

 end of each piece for driving. 



Take two of these pieces and connect them with a 

 cross-piece about eight feet long. This will give one 

 half of the framework for the retreat which will be 

 in the form of a capital H but with the cross-piece 

 considerably below the center. With the other two 

 pieces and another cross-piece the other half of the 

 frame is made. Each half is then driven into the 

 bottom or, in case of rocky bottom, is anchored with 

 stones. They are placed about twelve or fifteen feet 

 apart facing each other, and this is the foundation of 

 the retreat. 



Now cut some limbs from near-by trees (do not 

 use conifers or evergreens) and sink them between 

 your frames so that the heavy ends or butts are to- 

 ward the center and the light or small ends are rest- 



