214 FORESTANDSTREAM 
Some Weedless Hooks and Others 
Tried and Tested Contrivances That Have Helped The Bait Fishermen 
T'V URING my fishing in the autumn of 1914 
I had some very pleasant experiences in 
all lines of the sport, and then again I 
had some experiences that certainly were not for 
the best. I remember one time in special—a 
warm, fine day when the bass were in the shal¬ 
lows and around the channel of the lake, where 
it connects with another member, and I had rise 
after rise to my artificials, and yet they did not 
stick on the hooks, though time and time again 
I set the barbs, firm and seemingly perfect, but 
they would come off. Inspection of my hooks 
revealed that they were very blunt; in fact, so 
blunt that hitting an ordinarily hard spot they 
would not drive through. Instantly picking up 
the tackle box file I filed them to suit and mak¬ 
ing my next cast, caught an old monster that I 
had had on three separate times, and who yet 
determined to put an end to my bait. The filing 
of the hooks did the deed. Now there is just 
By Robert Page Lincoln. 
the point I wish to bring out in regard to weed¬ 
less hooks, used as they are with live bait, frogs 
or minnows. I once met a disgusted fisherman; 
he rowed by, and asking him what luck he had 
had he said that it had been very poor; that he 
had any number on but that they would shake 
off. I asked to see the contrivance he was us¬ 
ing. The reason was plain enough. His hook 
was so blunt that I could not, by pressure upon 
it with my finger tip, make any impression what¬ 
ever. He was surprised at his thoughtlessness, 
and fishing later, after having filed his hooks, 
he got his bass every time. Before, setting the 
hook, he had made no hold at all. Now this is 
not just exactly thoughtlessness either. I only 
learned of it a few years ago. I never go out 
now without having all my hooks sharpened to 
razor edge keenness and if an old lunker hits that 
bait anywhere near firm, up he comes. Pursuing 
the above intimation perhaps for you there is 
also a reason why you did not get those fish last 
summer. 
If one is a live bait enthusiast, the selection of 
just the right sort of a weedless hook for the 
insertion of a frog upon same, is a mighty in¬ 
teresting proposition. For years I have tried 
out various kinds; some have been found want¬ 
ing, and others have been eminently just right. 
A weedless hook should be just what it signifies. 
It should be so protected that it can be trolled 
through the thickest of weeds without adhering 
to same. But there are weedless hooks that do 
not do this. They will, though provided with 
an apparent safeguard, catch on the weeds. One 
of the first weedless hooks that I used was one 
having a single wire that ran up to the point of 
the hook, something as you will see in Figure 3. 
It had a very bright little silver knob on the end 
of it. It looked very cunning, and dangerous. 
But the fact of the matter was that the wire was 
too firm in place. If struck it would not press 
down; and the fish would get away. After losing 
many fish I took that weedless hook, and like 
the knight in King Arthur legend, I flung it, like 
another gyrating Excalibur, into the watery dis¬ 
tance. I used a hook without a weed guard dur¬ 
ing the rest of that trip. 
Figure 1 is a very good exemplification of a 
good weedless hook. The wire is not high-ten¬ 
sioned; it will readily press down at touch of the 
clamping black-bass mouth. Figure 2 is the 
same variety of hook, weighed with a bit of 
lead. Now there is a point about hooks that 
may have good points, then again not—this matter 
of leaded hooks. Ordinarily, for average bass 
casting in more or less shallow water I have 
found a leaded hook to be an abomination. I 
do not believe in certain hallucinations surround¬ 
ing the word “luck,” but, nevertheless, I have 
always had poor luck with a leaded hook. But 
of course they have their good points in this: 
When fishing in deep water, when, naturally, the 
hook and bait must be sunken to an appreciable 
depth, then the weighted hook comes in for 
especial mention. Figure 5 . a Jamison spoon, 
is a very good production. I am very enthusias¬ 
tic about these weedless hooks, with spoon 
attachment. In the first place one wants to lure 
his fish to it. In this manner, by the use of 
such a spoon he employs two irresistible sys¬ 
tems; first, the live frog in itself; second, the 
twirling spoon with its penetrating glitter. One 
should always have a variety of spoons, weedleSs 
hooks, and common weedless hooks on hand. One 
always likes a change now and then. A brass, 
or copper spoon, and a silver, or nickled spoon 
are things to conjure with. Note on Figure 5 
the swivel attachment. This is a good thing. 
Mark this well! 
A swivel attachment has this advantage. It 
