The Fishing Photographer with Doug Bucha: Happy Holidays!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM THE GANG AT TONIGHTS HEDDON MEETING



In attendance: Bill Sonnett, Mike Kechkaylo KECH, Ric Ladonski, Randy Sherrill, Tom Coleman, Erick Norris, Max Merrill, Dean Rudasics, Doug Bucha and Don & Joan Lyons.

-- Doug Bucha

The FIshing Photographer with Doug Bucha: Seth Green

SETH GREEN

Father of Fish Culture 1817-1888



Seth Green is called the father of fish culture because of his early work in fish propagation in 1864. He also built the first fish hatchery in the United States near Rochester, New York, at this same time. Green was not only the father of fish culture in the United States but this honor would be bestowed on him world wide.

After watching the series on PBS, called THE ROOSEVELTS, it reminded me that Green was also a good fishing buddy of Mr. Robert Roosevelt of New York. They became very close friends and would spend weeks fishing from Mr. Roosevelt’s yacht. There is a very good article that can be accessed on the internet called Rochester History by Sylvia R. Black that I would recommend as good reading. It will cover the history of Seth Green in great detail.

In the foreground of this photograph is a fly pattern tied by Edith Nieboer in the late 1920’s, which is named in Green’s honor. This is just one pattern of fly from over 130 of her master fly patterns that I am lucky enough to own. Edith started her fly tying company in Sparta, Michigan in 1928. She would sell her company to the Paw Paw Bait Company in 1934. Paw Paw would keep her on to manage the new fly tying division of the company until 1938.

In the background of this photograph is a very old fishing rod/or line drier. It was sold to me as possibly being an item made by Seth Green.

In the 1850’s, Mr. Green was the most successful commercial fisherman in the state of New York. Could this be a short rod that was used over the side of a boat on Lake Ontario? If anyone has knowledge of Mr. Green and the fishing equipment that he used, I would like to hear from them.

Thank you,

Doug Bucha dbucha@att.net

The Spring Activated Coil Fishing Rod by Doug Bucha

The Spring Activated Coil Fishing Rod

by Doug Bucha

At the recent Niles Riverfest, I was able to photograph some of Ric Ladonski's collection of spring rods. Some people who stopped by thought these rods were designed for ice fishing. The truth is, the rods were designed to be broken down into two parts so they could be stored in ones tackle box for easy transport. The concept behind the coil was to make up for the rod not having any length to it. Believe it or not, the rod does have a good action when playing a big fish. They were popular from the 1920s trough the '50s.





Photo of Harold Dickert and Ric Ladonski discussing some of Ric's Spring Rods.



The most interesting of Ric's Spring Rods. Electric ???? We can not figure it out either.

Maybe someone one on the blog can? If anyone has an answer they can email me at dbucha AT att DOT net

-- Doug Bucha

UPDATE

The following was sent in by reader Mike of Dayton and illuminates a bit more on the Spring Coil Rod:

I don't know if you ever get to the Friendship, In. Flea Market they have twice a year or not. But I went there twice a year every year for about 3 years. (That was about 4 years ago.) And every year there was a younger guy there selling spring rods.

Anyways the story he told me was his grandfather was the guy who invented spring rods or came up with the ideal or something like that. Anyways his grandfather had the patent on them. When his grandfather passed away none of the relation wanted to take over the business. So when he (the guys grandson, or maybe it was a great grandson) got old enough and got some money ahead he took over the rights for the spring rods and had them re-produced by the same company his grandfather used years ago. Then he bought a big ol' RV and traveled all over the country selling his grandpa's spring rods at flea markets.

I knew about them as a friend of mine collected spring rods. My friend had one from England that came with 3 different spring rods and 1 handle. There was a light, medium, and heavy.

Anyways the guys grandson went into his RV and took out an old looking spring rod that was what he claimed to be his grandfathers first spring rod and he put it next to one of his and everything was the same! I asked him how someone could tell the difference from the new ones and old ones? He said they can't they are one and the same.

So when ever I see one for sale I always try to pass this info on as it might be a new spring rod and not an old one.

Thanks Mike!

The FIshing Photographer with Doug Bucha: The Gulf Shores

While living on the Gulf Coast of Alabama this winter, I decided to check out the local museums in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. I found that both museums have nice comprehensive displays of commercial and recreational fishing.

Of course, I was interested in the recreational fishing. Christie Shannon and her staff at the Gulf Shores museum have put together a fine display of both. Over at the Orange Beach museum, Gail Walker Graham and her staff have gone beyond the common display. She and her staff have developed one of the finest presentations that I have viewed. Gail's museum also has a fine display of the influence of the Native American cultures on the area. If you ever get a chance to become a Snow Bird and visit this area, please take the time to visit and enjoy both museums. It is time well spent.

-- Doug Bucha

The Fishing Photographer with Doug Bucha: BLACK LIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY: A NEW PHOTOGRAPHIC TOOL

BLACK LIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY: A NEW PHOTOGRAPHIC TOOL

I first saw the black light photography method used by Frank Cristao a few months ago. It got me thinking about some other ways that it might be used by collectors. It could be a useful tool when either buying or selling lures on the internet. Example: As the photograph of the solid black South Bend Vacuum bait shows, the repainted area under black light photography stands out.



As you can see, this method even works on lures that do not glow in the dark.



A good example/use would be when a buyer is unsure of a lure that he is interested in, he could ask the seller to take some black light photographs of it and send them to him. The reverse would be true in that a seller could show a lure he was trying to sell, was not touched up. This method could save a lot of time and hard feelings. Black light photography seems to work with any good digital camera. It’s a lot of fun. Maybe some other uses can be found? Let me know.

Your Fishing Photographer: Doug Bucha

The Fishing Photographer with Doug Bucha: Mardi Gras Baits

Fun things to do when living on the Gulf Coast. Mardi Gras parades and hunting for Pier Baits.



-- Doug Bucha