RabidAngler: "leading me to believe they bite stuff."

Yes they do or used to. Back in the 60's I bought oakies from Willy Slinker in Centralia by the 100's. ( 7 cents each) Catching steelhead was not difficult. I then decided to try something a little different. I collected pieces of pumice along the Toutle, drilled a hole in them and strung them on a string in a box and sprayed them florescent red usually. Worked nearly as well. And a lot cheaper. Those were the days, my friends.