PUTIN—THE BASS WHO TRIED TO SWALLOW UKRAINE

Vladimir Putin is like a largemouth bass trying to swallow his smaller neighbor—which reminds me of a story. Years ago my friend John and I were fishing for largemouth bass. They are impressive fish, whose hinged jaws open wide enough to allow them to swallow a victim nearly half their size. They don’t just bite their prey—they inhale it. I was using a lure. But John was using a method that was new to me. He was hooking medium sized bluegills by the tail, dangling them from a hook and bobber and catching more bass than I. Why was he fishing this way?