So, Who Knows Salamanders?

[Stan Hillis]

How can you get anything in or out of your shop with that huge stack of firewood there, Bill?

When I was a kid we used to be able to buy salamanders at a local bait and tackle shop to use as live bass bait. Hooked through the nose they would stay alive for a long time. They were called "spring lizards" down here. That may have been a local colloquialism, not sure. They were a relatively expensive bait to buy but were hugely effective on bass. I'm told that bass hate them because they are robbers of fish eggs when bass are bedding. I do know that artificial salamanders evoke a vicious attack from a big bass when she's on the bed and you cast one into her bed.

Anyone else remember spring lizards as bass bait?