REELS, LINES AND BAITS 125 



Artificial Baits. 



It is not so many years ago that the only artificial 

 baits used consisted of spoons in various styles, phan- 

 tom minnows, and divers rubber bugs. As noted 

 above the new method of casting from the reel greatly 

 stimulated the use and production of artificial lures 

 and, at the present time, the bait-caster may make his 

 selection from a great many different sorts, some of 

 which are very good and others very bad. Classifica- 

 tion of these baits in general shows two well differen- 

 tiated sorts ; sinking baits and surface baits. Although 

 not entirely, the greater part of the recently introduced 

 lures belong to the first of these classes. Generally 

 speaking the surface baits are only successful in rather 

 shallow water, two to eight or ten feet, and are, there- 

 fore, only to be used when the bass are in the shallows. 

 Of the sinking baits the wooden minnows are the most 

 numerous, are very extensively used, and the best ones 

 are usually very successful. 



Of the under-water minnows the wooden min- 

 nows are made for both surface and submerged fishing 

 one of the best is the " rainbow," 



made by a well-known manufacturer of W 



, . r . , Minnows. 



casting baits. 1 his minnow has a green 



back, yellowish sides, and pink-to-white belly. As 

 usually furnished it is fitted with three burrs, or treble 

 hooks, and with spinners fore and aft. The " fancy 



