The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-09-06
Some Mighty Fine Catches Are Being
Made Along the Mississippi
River These
Days.
WALToNs ARE ALL OUT
How to Bait Hook When Fishing for
Bass-Easier Hooked When
the Bait is on
Correctly.

Fishing has never been SO popular
among Keokuk Waltons as at the
present time. Scores of local fisher
men try their luck at the various
fishing places along the river every
day and some mighty fine catches are
being made. Croppy, perch, carp
and cat fish are the most plentiful,
but salmon, bass, sturgeon and other
varieties are also caught.
One of the places most frequented
by local fishermen is along the river
bank just below the lock. A good
deal of fishing is done from the sand
barges near the foot of Bank street,
while the piers Of the bridge are
used by some. OF course there are
many other favorite places in this vi
entity.
How to Catch Bass.
For those who are after bass, the
following on how to bait the hook
for this variety will be of interest:
When using minnows for beDjs
fshiners are the only reliable ones).
pass the hook in at the mouth, then
out through the gill, and finally bed
the barb in the flesh just above the
tall This is the reverse of the usual
way; but answers very well. Keep
the bait moving in a natural headfore-
most manner by means of slight
turning of the wrist. A bass Selling
this bait will either grab it crossw1se
or by the tail, and then bore toward
his stronghold before swallowing. II
given plenty of time he Will fl1rt the
minnow around SO as to take 1t head
first in swallowing. This Is natural,
but do not wait for it.
Upon the first twitch strike sharply
and trust to luck The bass has the
minnow either crosswise or tail first
in his first grab, and in either event
the hook has two chances OF taking
hold. Two to one is good odds. II
given time the bass will reverse the
bait, and in so doing he may find the
hook and promptly reject the mag
ined dainty When hooked head up
ward the minnow plays in natural
manner: If hooked merely through
the lips it may be taken without CIV
ing a chance to plant the barb firmly,
and good miniows are scarce. II
hooked first through the lips and then
through the skin of the back. or the
back fin, there is still a goodly por-
ton of it at which fish may grab
with impunity. Therefore hook the
bait as described, and strike at the
first sign, without giving any chances
for gorsing at leisure and subsequent
trouble in removing fairly swal-
lowed hook.
BATTING With Grubs.
When using white grubs pass the
hook in at the mouth, or just below
it, and on to the tail. This gives
natural curve, which few bass can
resist. When the bait IS crayfish pass
the barb in at the mouth and through
to the tail This also gives the I'M
portant natural curve, and bait so
rugged and sent down with Mr.. So
and-So's compliments, is well-nfgh If
resistible
Another important point is that
bats so rugged may serve two or
three times. This is no trifling mat
ter. when fish are biting freely. AS
rule. crayfish, frogs, minnows, and SO
on. are difficult to secure in numbers
and the more service one can De
made to render the better. And FUR
thermore. bait so rugged will almost
invaria bly, slide up the gut, at the
fish's first rush, and so be preserved
to do another turn.
When using frog pass the hook
first through the lips and then the
skin at the juncture of the legs with
the back. In this position the frog
can kick out and swim morn or less
and in so doing makes himself more
attractive. The grasshopper and the
bee may be hooked crosswise behind
the wings and so serve their purpose.