The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-05-26
HOW TO FISH
FOR BLACK BASS
Suggestions as to the Most Attractive
Lures for the Gamey and OBJ
stinate Fish.

Lures for the Gamey and OBJ
stinate Fish.
There is a great diversity of opin-
ion as to what kind of bait is best
for black bass. Some fishermen
swear by minnows, others by green
frogs and still others say that abso-
lutely the best bait is the night
walker, or the smaller ordinary
angle worm. They no doubt all
have their advantages in the sec
tions where they are used. Bait
that is attractive and fetching in
some localities will not be so good
in other places. Bass will usually
take minnows if they are biting.
In the Delaware River, fishermen
mostly use helgramites (dobsons) /;
still many Delaware fishermen use
the small lamprey eel, known locally
as the 'lamper."
In the smaller inland lakes and
waters crawfish are very considerably
used. 1t is not an uncommon sight
to see anglers chasing over the fields
with a landing net scooping at grass
hoppers. Big crickets are often sue
cessfully used.
In the lakes, ponds and streams
hereabouts green frogs are often
4. dealer would go to the trouble of
shipping green frogs from the West
and advertise that he had them for
sale, he would find plenty of buyers.
1t is possible to get this bait at most
| of the fishing places, but it is fear
fully disappointing to arrive at a
lake or pond and find that you can
not get them. Unfortunately this
| happens only. too often.
The green frogs are very hardy
and will live for two or even three
weeks with the slightest care They
should be Kept in Il covered basket,
in Il cool place, away from the rays
of the sun. The basket. should be
dipped into fresh water about three
times day. 1t is mistake to leave
the frogs wet all day, as it is apt
to chill and kill them. When posi-
BILE, the basket should be placed par
TALLY in the water, leaving the great
er portion of the bottom dry. This
will be found to be the most success
full method of keeping the frogs,
They will not require food.
Fresh water minnows, on the other
hand, are very delicate, and it is diff
ticult to keep them in captivity. They
soon exhaust the oxygen from the
water turn belly up and die. The
floating minnow pail helped solve
the problem some, but even in this
will die. A further improvement is
a self-aerating minnow bucket, which
has an air pump on its side and an
air chamber at the bottom. The air
pumped into this chamber escapes
gradually into the water and sup
pies the necessary oxygen. The
changing of the temperature of the
water kills the minnows. If it is
possible to drop them into ice water
and to keep the water icy cold they
will live almost indefinitely. If you
put them in a pail of fresh water
and allow the water to become grad
ually warm they will all die. The
best plan is to keep them in the wa
ter in a large pail full of small holes
the fish cannot then come to the
top for air, and it should be kept
from the rays of the sun.
The dew worm is the large garden
or angle worm. They come to the
surface at night and particularly fol.
lowing rain and can easily be picked
up with the aid of light. They viii
live in earth if the earth is not toe
wet, but manage best in moss. They
are usually very plentiful in fertile
soil. Most people call them night
walkers.
Helgramites, or dobsons, as they
are frequently called, are hooked
through the shell part in the back
the hook passing out, leaving the
point clear. A better method fol
hooking the helgramite is to put {
halter on him." as the Delaware fish
ermen say. This is done by tyin&
one strand only of silk around th'
neck, leaving it Just loose enough 81
that the hook will pass through thu
loop. This method keeps him alive
in which condition he is much mort
apt to attract the bass. Anglers usu
ally prepare their bait in this way il
advance. Keep helgramites in til
can or q wooden box (not a ciga
box) and leave them in the shade
At night, put in a little grass tha
has been dipped in water.
Some Household Dangers.
Never fill an oil lamp or a paraffi