144 THE FINE ART OF FISHING 



spinners be well tied and true to pattern and dressed 

 on the best grade of hooks. Any fly-spoon which 

 answers the above requirements will do, others will not. 



The fly-spoons made in tandem style, that is, with 

 two small spoon blades leading the fly, may be especi- 

 ally recommended both for strip-casting proper and 

 also for use on the fly-rod for casting as with the fly. 

 As above suggested only the lightest and smallest spin- 

 ners should be used for casting as in fly-fishing. When 

 ready for the back cast, in this last style of casting, do 

 not snap the spinner out of the water, but lift it out 

 easily. The former method is apt to result disastrously 

 in several ways. Single-hook bucktail spinners and also 

 a similar fly-spinner known as the fox squirrel tail are 

 very successful lures for strip-casting and small spoon 

 casting with the fly-rod. 



Any of the lighter weight surface baits such as are 

 used in bait-casting are also good for strip-casting. It 

 would appear that under certain conditions the black 

 bass favors a floating bait; quite often they will rise to 

 the surface and strike a floating lure when under-water 

 fishing is barren of results. The floating baits are also 

 the most practical and saving of tackle, fish, and temper 

 when fishing very weedy lakes, casting among the lily 

 pads and rushes, and in all places where under-water 

 fishing is liable to result in fouling the tackle either in 

 casting or after a bass is hooked. As a general rule, 

 a bass which strikes a floating bait will fight close to 

 the surface, seldom going down to any considerable 

 depth, and the wise angler, either bait- or strip-caster, 

 fishing where the bottom is badly obstructed will do 

 well to remember this. 



