I was born and raised in mid-southern Illinois. Having access to
numerous farm ponds and creeks within walkin or bike riding distance,
I had opportunities to fish practically everyday of my young life.
Modest equipment back then to me was my Zebco 202. I remember
graduating at about 12 years old to A 404! I kept A small journal
back then, and although its long gone in A house fire I remember
recording my days catches. 30 or 40 fish in A day was A reality
and A part of life then. I can still see the scales flying off
my bluegills by the rotation of my pedals beating them on every
other stroke. Racin to get them home fast enough to show em off
before cleaning them to eat. Most all my baits then were smaller
versions of bigger lures and the famous "cork poppers". Finances
kept me from purchasing anything from the "Top Shelf", but I
learned early if you wanted to catch whatever swam then, you
needed A small bait. I havn't gotten to acquire every bait from
my youth. Being only 40 now, I used A lot of loaners from older
kinfolk, which at some point lead to A life of collecting that
now involves part of my time everyday. This is my collection of
small, micro, or otherwise fly-rod baits...Thanks..Ed Brown
Article submited by: ED BROWN
