| One of the most effective lures for black bass in | | | | needle-sharp hooks than with dull, cheap ones. |
| fresh water is the so-called "bass bug" which is | | | | Before the treble hook is put on the screw eye it |
| used with a fly rod. However, these bugs are too | | | | should be wound with bucktail hair. First cut your |
| light to cast with a casting or spinning rod. But the | | | | bucktail hair so that it is only slightly longer than |
| angler who wants to use such tackle can easily | | | | the shank of the hook. Next, get some fly-tying |
| make bass bugs which are heavy enough to cast. | | | | thread and make a few turns with it around the |
| Such lures (which I will call "spin bugs" to separate | | | | hook shank near the eye. Now form three or |
| them from the regular cork or plastic "bass bugs") | | | | four pinches of the bucktail hair and have them |
| should weight at least 1/4 oz. or a bit more to | | | | ready. |
| cast well. They are usually bulky, having hair or | | | | Take one of the pinches of bucktail, lay it against |
| feathers which hold them back during the cast. | | | | the hook shank and wind several turns of thread |
| Spin bugs or bass bugs are usually made to | | | | around it. To make the wings of the spin bug |
| resemble some kind of insect or bug which has | | | | which project from the sides, use buck-tail or |
| fallen into the water. These are generally such big | | | | other hair. Take two pinches of the bucktail and |
| insects as dragonflies, butterflies, moths, beetles, | | | | wrap the butts tightly with fly-tying thread. |
| and grasshoppers. Such insects float and kick | | | | Then dip or dab the windings with clear, |
| around on top of the water, so spin bugs which | | | | waterproof cement. After they dry, drill two |
| do the same are the best fish-getters. However, | | | | holes in the wood body of the bug, one on each |
| some of these lures are also made to resemble | | | | side. When you do this, make sure that the holes |
| minnows, small fish, or frogs. | | | | are just big enough to take the butts of the |
| The simplest type of spin bug one can make is a | | | | bucktail wings snugly. In other words, it should be |
| small popping bug. The spin bugs are much | | | | a tight fit. |
| smaller, shorter, and have fewer hooks. And they | | | | Then dip the butts of the wings in clear cement |
| will have hair or feathers added to imitate the legs | | | | and insert them into the holes. You can also force |
| or wings of a bug or insect. | | | | a drop or two of the cement into the holes with |
| The popping spin bug can be made from soft, | | | | a stick or brush. When the cement dries the |
| light wood such as cedar or basswood. It should | | | | bucktail wings will be held firmly in place. |
| be about 11/2 in. long and 7/8 in. in diameter. The | | | | Finish off the wrapping with more turns. Add |
| head slants downward at the regular 45-degree | | | | another pinch of bucktail next to the first one and |
| angle. You need two small screw-eyes and one | | | | wind some thread around it. Keep doing this until |
| treble hook to finish this bug. One screw eye | | | | the hook shank is completely covered. Bind it with |
| goes at the head for the fishing line, while the | | | | a whip finish or a series of half hitches. Then coat |
| other one holds the treble hook at the tail. | | | | the thread wrapping with fly-tying cement or with |
| The screw eyes and hooks should be smaller than | | | | one of the clear, quick-drying cements which |
| those used for regular fresh-water plugs; a No. 2 | | | | come in tubes. |
| or No. 4 treble hook is a good size to use. The | | | | With one of these spin bugs on the end of your |
| hooks should be sharp, fine-wire types of the | | | | line, you should enjoy success every time. |
| best quality. You'll hook more fish with | | | | |