Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Voices from the Past: Sid W. Gordon (1949)




This nifty article comes from a 1940s newspaper column and was written by Sid W. Gordon, a noted outdoor writer of the day. It describes rod action in a very interesting way.

UNDERSTANDING THE ACTION OF A ROD

with Sid W. Gordon

If man or boy would understand just what a rod means when we speak of "action" let him look to the overhanging alder on lake or stream. The beginner hears the fisherman talk about the action of his rod.

We pick up a rod and say "this rod has a sweet action." Too often the novice thinks we mean that it acts well in the hand, as far as casting fly or plug is concerned. How it acts with a fish is something that he overlooks.

Let him fish but a little while, lose some fish and save a few, then he will understand just what a rod is supposed to do, that has good action. A sunken log, an uprooted stump will teach him one thing but the branch of an alder, swaying loosely with the current will teach him another.

The moment a fish is hooked he tries to lose that hook. He runs to log or stump, or to any cover in which he can hide and snub that line which tries to drag him to the surface.

The fisherman whose fish "ties him up" in a log or rooted stumps finds nothing but a hookless leader dangling at the end of his line. He who is lucky enough to have the line or leader snagged around a light branch in the water often saves his fish.

There is no action to stump or log, just a dead pull for the fish against a snagged line or leader and the fish is gone. A line or leader around a branch swaying in the stream often results in a saved fish, often the largest fish, which a beginner might have lost otherwise.

The novice may never have fought a good fish in the water. He may not know that the action of a rod, with a fish, consists of its ability to give without breaking but to control the fish at all times. If he points the rod directly at the fish in the water, he loses a good sized fish as surely as if the leader were wrapped around a log.

In this position there is a dead pull, none of the action of the rod is used, the leader breaks and the fish is gone. It would have been far better to have deliberately run the fish into the alders to get snagged on a swaying branch.

Then he would see that every time the fish tugged, the branch would sway with the fish, toward him, for the branch would give a little at each pull slowly swinging back as the pull lessened.

He would understand why so many of us, tangled in the alders, often had time to walk over to the other side of the sreatm, release the line by hand and continue fighting the fish with the rod.

The swinging alder merely did what the beginner fisherman failed to do with his rod, give and take at the right moment. A hooked fish need not be led to net immediately, with light tackle he would be lost almost at once.

A hooked fish must be played, tired out, before he is brought to the net, when using light tackle. It is right then that you use and appreciate the action of a good rod.

Just as the alder gives a little with each pull of the fish, so does the rod if you will hut give it a chance. A "hard hand" snaps a leader but a gentle hand sees that there is a good bow in the rod while playing the fish.

The fish pulls against the spring of the rod and that spring must be maintained against a fighting fish at all times. True, the rod, no matter how onod its action, must be helped by slowly letting out the line when the fish puts too great a bow in the rod.

The line must never be slack, for the fish could throw plug or fly, but it need never be so tight that there is danger of snapping the rod by a heavy fish. The man who reels in his fish quickly so that a small fish dangles up there in the air near the tip soon quits that.

He is no more at fault though then he who, with a good rod, does not use the fine action of the rod to the fullest. We use the rod to kill fish but we must not kill the rod in so doing. He who keeps the rod in a great bow, great tension, against a good fish snaps the tip, breaks a middle joint and that is so unnecessary. Paying out a little line, taking it in when necessary is the reason why our rods last some of us a lifetime. We have found the action of our own particular rod and use it accordingly.
-- Dr. Todd

Monday, April 29, 2013

The News of the Week: April 28, 2013






Don't have time to read 50+ fishing and tackle collecting blogs and web sites? Well, let us do it for you! Follow all of the latest news, articles, and stories on our Whitefishpress Twitter account! Hint: You don't need to be a member...just bookmark the Twitter Feed Page or click on latest links to the right!

THE MONDAY 10: The Ten Fishing Stories of the Week You Need to Know

The Big Lead: Karl White is still seeking a home for his massive collection.



Why the Maumee River is a hotbed for walleyes.

Hardy & Greys announces a special experience day.



Terrible news: a fisherman's body is recovered from Lake Wallenpaupack.

A nice event honoring a dedicated angler.



A trotline full of memories.

A nice piece on bringing back the art of spearfishing.



Horsehair flies have stood the test of time.

The art of spey casting is catching on.



Finishing with a Flourish: Marines ice fish with Alaska natives.



-- Dr. Todd

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Hollywood Goes Fishing: David Ladd (1960)


David Ladd, pictured below in 1960, was a child actor who was the brother of Alan Ladd. He is pictured here from the set of the movie Raymie, and continued working in Hollywood in minor roles until 1981. His most famous role was probably as the voice of the seagull in the movie Johnathan Livingstone Seagull in 1973. That year, he became a movie executive, a career which saw some fine success. His daughter Cheryl Ladd became an international sex symbol and Sports Illustrated cover girl.



-- Dr. Todd

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Letterheadings with Jim Jordan: Outing Manufacturing Company (1938)



Sometime these pieces of old tackle ephemera provide us with more questions than answers.

As a follow up to last weeks early Outing illustrated envelope, we present another piece of paper from Outing Mfg. Co. Elkhart, Indiana. This rather plain letterhead was found with a 1939 fifteen page Outing Cantilever Tackle and Tool boxes catalog. The date on the letterhead is October 28, 1938.  Could this be the same company purchased by Heddon in 1927? I had always been under the impression that Heddon had bought Outing for the rights to the cantilever tackle box and that was the end of Outing Manufacturing Company. Apparently this was not so.

The heading on this letter leaves no doubt. The name checks out, Outing Manufacturing Company, Inc., except now they are incorporated in Elkhart, Indiana, a place that checks out as well. The originators of the "Automatic Cantilever Tackle and Tool Boxes." That cinches it. It was the same company.

It seems the details of Outings take over by Heddon  and their later revival are sparse. I reached out to Joan Lyons of The Heddon Museum. I am grateful to Joan for furnishing this insight on the Heddon-Outing.

Heddon-Outing products were brought to the dealer's attention in a December 1, 1927 flyer: "The business of the Outing Mfg. Co. of Elkhart, Ind. has been taken over by Heddon. The business consists of Tackle boxes; tool Boxes, landing nets, etc. ...  List prices slightly higher west of the Rocky Mountains."

An Outing flyer with their name crossed out and "Heddon's" stamped on over it have been found in a 1927 catalog (assuming just before the 1928 catalog came out). The Heddon Outing tackle boxes were sold through Heddon from 1927-1931. I don't believe that we have any hard copy information about it after the catalogs. But I was under the impression that Outing went on after that.

The 1939 Outing Catalog which accompanied the 1938 letterhead makes no mention of Heddon. The catalog does show much of Outings line which looks very similar to their 1920's offerings. Listings include Tackle & Tool  boxes, landing nets, Crow Calls and decoys. There is no listing for their old Getum line of baits. Other than their old standby boxes, Outing was offering a New Master Angler tackle box with an interesting spill proof safety device. Hopefully time will bring about more details about this historic takeover and the reemergence of this pioneering Elkhart,Indiana company.

Best,

Jim Jordan

Friday, April 26, 2013

The Friday Funhouse


The Video of the Week

A little background on Hardy reels.



12 Things I Would Buy If Only I Could Afford Them

This 1906 Sports Afield is just killing it.



Wow! This French glass minnow trap is pretty amazing.



A Heddon Salesman's Sample has attracted a huge number of bidders.



The Heddon Black Sucker is a hugely attractive bait.



Bill Phillipson made some underrated fly rods.



The Chippewa -- one of the truly iconic baits.



An early Eger is bound to attract a lot of attention from Florida bidders.



A Talbot Mars is a fantastic reel.



A Florida Shiner in the box? Heck yeah!



Bagley BB1s are cool baits.



Who wouldn't be charmed by this charmer?



This 7' South Bend surf rod is a surprising hit.



As always, have a great weekend -- and be good to each other, and yourself.

-- Dr. Todd

Thursday, April 25, 2013

My Favorite Crossroads Angling Auction Items from This Weekend's Auction


Crossroads Angling is having its annual spring sale this weekend, and I thought I'd chip in with my ten favorite items from their great catalog (available now on-line). So here they are, in no particular order:

This Vom Hofe Perfection 360 is just incredible!



As a collector of A&I reels, I love this one a lot.



You just don't see many Acme Wire Reels sold…



I do love this C.F. Orvis reel in the box!



This is one huge Kovalovsky reel.



The only known Vom Hofe "Little Joker" will do very well, I'm sure…



This 1898 A&I catalog is pretty damn cool.



A Miller's Reversible in the box is always a great find.



The Night Radiant Bait is the coolest uncatlogued Heddon lure you'll find.



The Masterlure 8" popper in the box should make the salties happy.



Crossroads Angling's auction is this weekend, and you can register and bid on-line by clicking here, or if you're in New Jersey, you can attend the auction in person!

-- Dr. Todd

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Hooked on Paper with Michael Koller: Wisconsin Fishing Regulations


One of the first forms of fishing paper I collected were fishing regulations. While I have various states regulations, I mostly have Wisconsin Fishing Regulations. The earlier regulations were called Laws and while they are still the law they now call them regulations. My collection of Wisconsin reg's starts with 1935 and runs until the present. It was my understanding the first year that there were Wisconsin reg's were 1935. In correspondence with Allen Soczka member NFLCC I'm told there are a good many  earlier years. He indicates a 1911, 1913, and nine other years prior to 1935. He also thinks there are three other years not mentioned. If any reader knows more concerning Wisconsin reg's please let me know - michaelkoller39@yahoo.com.
 
Many of the reg's list two years such as 1935-1936 or 1936-1937. Many of the reg's list a single year such as 1943, 1944, 1945 etc. Some years covers are in color while other years are in black and white.The graphics on the Wisconsin Regulations I have are  outstanding. See for yourself.












-- Mike Koller

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Voices from the Past: The Newton Line Co. (1939)




The following blurb came from the March 1939 Sporting Goods Dealer shows a very cool Newton Line Co. display. The article, entitled "Newton Display Sells Tackle," noted:

A handsome and ingenious display, which may be made the center of a window setting or used on the counter, has been supplied to its dealers by the Newton Line Company, Homer, N.Y. Shipped flat, the display opens to 28 inces in length, seven deep, and 15 1/2 high, providing the platforms on which Newton lines may be displayed along with reels, a fly-box and baits, to aid the dealer in making extra sales of accessories when lines are being sold. The display is printed on heavy cardboard in bright red, blue, and yellow.



It's a very nifty display and one I wish I could see in color!

-- Dr. Todd

Monday, April 22, 2013

News of the Week: April 22, 2013






Don't have time to read 50+ fishing and tackle collecting blogs and web sites? Well, let us do it for you! Follow all of the latest news, articles, and stories on our Whitefishpress Twitter account! Hint: You don't need to be a member...just bookmark the Twitter Feed Page or click on latest links to the right!

THE MONDAY 10: The Ten Fishing Stories of the Week You Need to Know

The Big Lead: A new film project seeks to follow WWII veteran back to France to fly fish.


The Medina, MN show gets some good press.



Even Warren Buffet likes a good fishing tackle story.

Former tackle man turns desperado.



Angler catches Arizona's biggest fish ever.



This week's winner of the Field & Stream tackle contest is the Russelure.



One fish, two fish, shy fish, bold fish



Did President George H.W. Bush just say he favored son Jeb because he likes to fish?

A profile of the Trout & Grouse.



Finishing with a Flourish: To save salmon you must first save the fish they eat.



-- Dr. Todd