38 
FOREST AND STREAM 
July 12, 1913 
Bait and Fly Suggestions 
That May Help You Capture the Wary Trout 
By J. L. BANKS 
W ITH the speckled and rainbow trout in 
mind I shall make these observations 
in fervent hope they may be of interest 
to fellow anglers. 
The opening of the trout season is no time 
for the fly—both because the streams are too high 
and roily, and because natural flies have not yet 
invaded the country. Bait, therefore, is our 
only means left, and sometimes it is hard to 
persuade oneself to this (in the opinion of 
many) low means of catching the trout. 
So we start out with the infallible angle 
worm or the piece of fish bait, the latter much 
preferable in the larger streams or the deep 
holes of the brook. Of course, the worm is 
the best bait for the smaller speckled trout, but 
the big streams, such as the Brule in Wisconsin 
or the Nipigon in Canada fish bait cut from a 
chub or shiner is far superior to the worm. 
This bait may be used very advantageously for 
big fish, and if not cut too large will serve as 
a good tempter for the smaller trout. 
Catch the chub or shiner, using the worm 
or a piece of bacon as bait. Scrape the scales 
off and cut into slices from an inch to two 
long. Better cut from the belly as that part 
of the fish glitters and attracts in the water. 
Hook this bait at the end so that it resembles 
a live minnow in the water. Let it sink in the 
desired hole, fishing from the head of the pool 
and allowing the bait to wash down with the 
current. Of course the live minnow would 
supersede this dead bait, but I have found the 
minnow very hard to find and the chub very 
easy to obtain. The chub and the shiner in¬ 
habit all streams, and I advise their use wher¬ 
ever there are trout from one-half pound up¬ 
ward. 
The angle and the grub form are best for 
the small fish in the riffle and shallow water, 
where the trout are running. With the worm 
as bait, the angler must jerk the instant the 
trout strikes. With the fish bait, a slower 
method must be used, as it takes more time for 
the trout to take a larger bait. 
Deep holes, the eddies behind rocks, stumps 
or water-soaked logs, and the long stretch of 
water on the edge of rapids are good places to 
use bait. In the pools the fish are feeding deep 
and the hook must be sunk till it almost reaches 
the bottom. Trout do not as a rule feed near 
the surface, till later in the season, and then 
they are after the fly. Two buck shots in a 
deep and swift stream are none too many. One 
otherwise would be a sufficient weight. Always 
avoid recasting bait for trout, as if you were 
using a fly. It only tires your wrist. The 
natural movement of the water keeps the bait 
in perpetual motion, and in a more natural 
motion than one may obtain by moving the 
rod. Also, fellow anglers, do not hurry from 
pool to pool; be patient when bait-fishing. There 
are trout at every bend of the stream if you 
will only be patient. 
When hooked, fight your fish slowly; never 
be in a hurry or you will lose him. Keep 
your line taut all the time; feed out line when 
the trout wants it; take it in when he can be 
drawn toward you, and always be sure that he 
is thoroughly drowned before using the net. 
The last flap of a tail has often caused the loss 
of a splendid trout when almost within the net. 
Of course, if you have youf fish hooked in the 
stomach or throat, he fights poorly and can be 
netted with little difficulty and no chance of 
loss. 
The speckled and the rainbow may be 
easily distinguished by their manner of fight. 
The speckled trout is the dead weight, the rain¬ 
bow a live wire, exerting every atom of strength 
to liberty. 
Maybe I have said enough on bait and might 
turn more profitably to the fly, yet one word 
on the small spoon hook. Some time when luck 
is against you, try the small-sized spinner in a 
stretch of white water. It may change your 
luck entirely. Often times on the Brule I have 
made a great “killing” in this way, when bait 
failed and the fly season yet to come. Fly¬ 
fishing is by far the best way to fish for trout. 
It may be difficult, it may tend toward discour¬ 
agement for the beginner, but a few weeks’ 
practice and a little perseverance will make one 
a fair caster. Begin your fly work with a light 
rod and be sure that it is well balanced when 
the reel is attached. I have found the Leonard 
rod the best adapted and most durable fly-rod. 
The line is equally important, a tapering heavy 
silk being the best. Any easy working reel will 
do. Use the six-foot leader and if the law 
permits two flies, preferably a light fly as lead 
—coachman or parmacheene belle—with your 
upper fly, the one resembling the fly on the water 
to which the trout are rising. My experience 
proves the necessity of one light fly, as it serves 
in a double capacity as an attraction in dark and 
deep water. 
To the man who has never fly-fished, three 
points of advice are essential: 
First—When casting, use your wrist only. 
At first practice the arm motion will help, but 
after short practice only use the wrist. Bring 
the line back until it is taut behind before the 
forward swing. Then cast easily and with the 
slightest wrist movement. After practice to per¬ 
fect your cast, learn to drop, your flies lightly 
on the water, lead fly first. Cast up stream and 
away from your body first, letting your flies 
wash down till your line is taut below. Then 
draw in slowly and recast; don’t mind the sink¬ 
ing of your flies, as the trout will take them 
just as readily under water. I have explained 
this underwater method in a former article, so 
will not repeat except to say that it is a won¬ 
derful way to use flies if only believed in more. 
Second—Jerk the instant the trout strikes 
the fly. As quickly as you see or feel the strike, 
jerk. More trout are lost through failure to 
hook them the second they hit the fly than in 
any other way. The trout, especially the rain¬ 
bow, when he discovers by taste the artificiality 
of the fly, will spit it out and disappear into 
the depths. The rainbow will never respond 
immediately; the brook trout generally strikes 
until he is hooked or through his own natural 
stupidity hooks himself. 
Third—If you hook a monster trout, walk 
ALL THE WORKING TOOLS EXCEPT PATIENCE. 
