The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-08-23
LIVE BAlT-THE MINNOW.
My dear Buck:


For an all round live bait that has
| the reputation Of bringing home the
bacon, most any time during the open
season, give us the minnow family,
which, by the way, is q large tribe.
Some fishermen call any small fish q
minnow, which is wrong, as the minnow
family is a distinct line made up of
over one hundred different species and
most small streams and lakes have
from ten to thirty species in their wa
tiers. You will find the minnow in all
sorts of places, the specialized sinner
mainly in the lakes, fallfish in the
large streams and club in the smaller
streams. The minnows taken from the
rapid flowing waters and rifles make |
the sturdiest bait and at the same
time the liveliest as their constant
fight with the swift current gives them |
more pep" than the minnow from
the gravel-bars or the deeper, quieter
pools.
Try Out Different MinnoWs.
, In most all fishing waters some par
ticular minnow has the reputation of
being the one best bet and it is well
: to follow the dope of the local fisher
men or guides, at the same time the
trying out of another specie may mean
better fishing all the way around.
9 For muskellunge, pike or pickerel
the larger sized minnows, say about
eight to ten inches are the best bait
5 and it's a toss-up between the fall
{ fish, creek or river club. silver sinner,
! or black sucker. All of these bats are
fine lures for casting or trolling.
For black bass the silver sinner or
!, dace seems to be the minnow that
tickles his fancy and its silvery sides
make great shining invitation under
! water. 1t is O good bait for any time
i or condition of water and is particu-
larry fine on dark and cloudy days or
n In rough water. River or creek clubs
y are hardy minnows with q tough
5 mouth that holds well on the hook
. and the fact that they are more lively
than the sinner, makes them attrac-
tive bait to most fishermen. On bright
days with clear and still water the
club is second to none as fish getter.
= Catfish and Perch as Bait.
The small catfish called by some,
the stonecat, madtom, bullhead or
j pout is a bait that will surprise the
4 bass fisherman who has never used it.
Early and late in the season, young
rs yellow perch can be used to advantage
u In lake fishing, however, to get the best
results from the perch bait, the dorsal
m, fin should be clipped off. This opera
~ ton does not impair the vitality of the
young perch, if done quickly with q
Il scissors, or a sharp knife.
~ For bass or wall-eyed pike q min
now four TO five inches long is about
II the right size. This sized minnow Is
livelier and will last much longer or
the hook than the smaller ones. Ever
"A a small bass, a half FOUNDER, will make
.or drive for this sized bait, while it is
Ter sure the happy medium for the ole
granddaddy who has a mans sizet
feed bag to fill. AS general thinl
the large sized bass like good mouth
full and there is not much chance O.
on using q minnow they cannot handle.
How to Hook the Minnow.
sc In batting the hook with the min
y" now, pass the hook through the lowe
l. lip and out the nostril or if the min
-, =, now is of large size, run the hool
" through both lips. For still fishin
:. where the water is quiet hook tn
oss minnow, if small, through the bach
above the backbone and Just benin
Y the dorsal fin. Clubs and suckers ca
ere be hooked through both lips whic
ne, are very strong on these species.
With the proper care minnOWS ca
Of be kept in good shape for an indefinit
Hi period. In camp Il permanent mir
his now box should be sunk in the waite
along the shore of the stream or lax
'm- and the bottom of the box filled wit
IRE, gravel and stones. Wire screen owe
l'i both ends gives a steady change
water. Always dip the minnows int
iol the minnow bucket with q small di
IN net and don't handle them. Lea,
that until you place them on the hoo
,sts 1t is best TO use large sized minno
no bucket and IL there is to be much
Mr.. carry, put bunch of water weet
wn. in the pail this saves them from 1
ss., jury caused by rough travel. In ca
his rying minnows any distance dor
and crowd 'em, fifty to a fve-gallon pt
* S is plenty. A pinch of salt added
the water once or twice during Il
ma days fishing gives 'em life. Chan
OF the water often, don't wait until Il
>eW minnows come to the top, that's abo
VIII VIII the time they are ready to turn bel
up. A mighty good plan is to to
along small bicycle pump and aera
gay the water every now and then
snip pumping air down into it, A good pl
IT, .I'c to follow In changing the water
a. the minnow pail is to pour it in FRI
height Of say two Or three feet. til
carries air into the water and t
Il minnow sure needs air as we'll as
M human being. DIXIE
iS-nc