REVIEW: David Sawyer's The Heddon Vamp #7500, 1920-1955

The Heddon Vamp is one of the iconic fishing lures of the twentieth century, selling millions of baits in a number of sizes and spawning legions of fishing fans and collectors. It's also one of the few books to spawn not one but two detailed books, the first about a decade ago by Dennis Boulais (now out of print) and the most recent by collector David Sawyer, entitled The Heddon Vamp #7500, 1920-1955. It details almost everything you would possibly want to know about the #7500.



The book starts with a discussion of Vamp Boxes, then moves on to lips, hardware, belly weights, etc. until it finally reaches the 22 types of #7500 identified by the author. It then breaks them down by style, and then moves on to color. It is the color section that is most impressive, breaking such common colors as Pike Scale down into a bewildering variety of variations.

The book uses large landscape portraits in full color of the lures, catalog cuts, and ephemera. The liberal use of color helps the author to identify characteristics of styles and paint schemes that are easy to overlook.

One of the things non-Vamp collectors can learn from this book are the general bits about Heddon history interspersed throughout the book, including interesting commentary on Jeanette Hawley and the fate of Heddon's Factory 2nds.

As I always do with self-published books, I will avoid a critical analysis of the layout, design, and copy editing as the book was a labor of love and should not be held to the same standard as a book produced by a professional publishing house. That being said, other than the use of some low resolution images that came out pixelated (a common and understandable problem in books that utilize multiple resources for source material), I was pleasantly surprised with the book. It's a hardcover and 278 pages in length, and I believe that any Heddon fan -- whether you are a Vamp collector or not -- should have a copy for their library. If you read this book and say you haven't learned anything, you either aren't telling the truth or you need to go back and start over again.

As an added bonus, the author's great-grandfather was featured in the 1941 catalog posing with two fish caught on one cast. I imagine that David Sawyer's great-grandfather would be proud of his great-grandson's creation. After all, it's clear that Heddon runs in this family's blood.

The book is available directly from the author through his web site which you can visit Clicking Here. You better hurry, though, as there are less than 30 copies left!

-- Dr. Todd

Thursday Review: The NFLCC Magazine (June 2013)

It's always a treat to get the latest NFLCC Magazine, and the one that arrived yesterday is another outstanding edition. There are a number of really well done articles in it.

My own contribution is a history of the Chicago trade house of Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co. -- one of the biggest tackle wholesalers in the world who sold tons of tackle under their Revonoc and OVB trade lines. I confess I wrote this article ten years ago (updated, of course, for the magazine) and set it aside, having forgotten I had not submitted it to the Magazine for publication. Duh. Well, here it is...

Dudley Murphy, our editor, gets to flex his writing chops by interviewing realistic fly maker David Martin. All I can say is OH. MY. GOD. The man is a genius. His flies are so real they look like they want to reach out and bite you.

Jerry Martin and Jim Dorr give us the third installment in their groundbreaking "Heddon Fly Rod Lures" series. It's another exemplary piece from this incredibly dynamic duo.

Bill Blauser treats us to a nice article on six very complicated (and rare) fish traps. It's the kind of article I wish more people would submit, as it's extremely interesting and well done.

Finally, Gary Smith ends with a flourish by detailing the Chicago hook of Charles Bew. Nicely done, Gary!

All in all a perfect issue...the Magazine is ably edited by Dudley Murphy and Gary Smith.

-- Dr. Todd

Thursday Review: ORCA's Reel News (March 2013)

The most recent issue of ORCA's Reel News recently arrived and reminded me why I like this magazine so much!

It's the yearly double-thick issue with the ORCA membership roll, but it also included a ton of great information, most of it not available anywhere else.

One of the things that Richard Lodge has been doing lately that I think is neat is reprinting some older articles. This issue gives us a cool one from Mike Nogay entitled "Early Fly Fishing with the Kentucky Reel," which was reprinted from the 1992 American Fly Fisher.

I enjoyed my Reels of the Trade article this issue, as it deals with the Trade Reels of E.C. Simmons of St. Louis, one of my favorite trade companies. Simmons sold a lot of cool reels and I tried to picture a representative sample of them.

The great Bob Miller gives us "Seven Decades of the Pflueger Reel: The Fateful 1960s," which chronicles the last decade (six years actually) of Enterprise Manufacturing Co. fishing reels. It brings to an end a really great series by Bob, who is winding up over fifteen years as the Pflueger Pfacts columnist.

Mike Cacioppo gives us his continuing series on Penn reels, and it is indeed excellent. This one covers Penn trade reels, including the Tryon and Schultz trade models.

Jim Schottenham gives us the always great Auction Report. I am always shocked by Jim's ability to catch really rare reels on the internet; he has a truly discerning eye.

Ben Wright gives us the details on the Heddon Spin-o-Matic, as well as reprint of the Spinning Reel Report that debuts here on the Fishing for History blog (and is reprinted monthly in the Fishing for History Magazine).

All in all, it was another strong issue and a reminder why ORCA is the coolest.

-- Dr. Todd

Thursday Review: Bernard Defrance and Philippe Bridou's Warner and Sons Wyers Frere (2013)

Thursday Review: Bernard Defrance and Philippe Bridou's Warner and Sons Wyers Frere (2013)
A few days ago the international mail delivered a hugely welcome treat -- the new hardcover book on Warner and Sons and Wyers Frere. For those who don't know, the Warners, English brothers from Redditch, England, created the legendary Parisian store Wyers Frere as an outlet for their goods on the Continent, and in so doing created some of the neatest and most collectable piscatoria in the world.



The books is basically a catalogue of Bernard Defrance's extensive collection. Usually such books end up lacking, as few collectors truly have an exhaustive enough accumulation to fully flesh out a book. However, in this case it was warranted (several pages of another collection are in fact used to flesh out a section).

While the history is not exhaustive it does cover the subject well, but mostly this is a photo record of Warner and Sons fishing tackle -- not all of it manufactured by them. They sold a number of items from other makers through Wyers Frere in Paris (there are some Montague and Pflueger trade reels with the Wyers Frere marking).

And what a place it was! It had all the elegance one would expect from a fin de siecle shop that catered to Parisian wealth and aristocracy. The historic photos are excellent and make one wish to travel in a time machine to visit this most historic shrines to angling.

The book has only a few drawbacks, and many benefits. First, I would have liked to have seen a more extensive rod section, but European rod makers and resellers usually get shorted in such works, so that wasn't a shock. I would also liked to have seen an appendix or two of catalog and other Warner and Son/Wyers ephemera. I think another 30 pages or so of source material would have rounded the book out nicely.

The book itself has an interesting layout -- the first time I leafed through it I thought it was a bit on the "heavy" side, with little room for the photos to breathe, but when I started reading it, the photo-heavy style grew on me. The photographs are mostly exceptional in the Chris Sandford style, and cover nearly all aspects of Warner and Sons tackle.



Overall, this is an excellent addition to any angler's library. It's written in both English and French and was printed in Belgium, with an introduction by noted entomologist and fly angler Charles Gaidy. A casebound hardcover (no dust jacket), it is 166 pages of full color. The only catch is getting a copy -- I purchased my copy from the author for approximately $140.00 on eBay before it went to print, and I am assuming by the fact it is not up there anymore they may have sold out their Limited Edition run. I do not know if they will come out with a trade edition, The seller's name was chatblanc0 and if I'm you want a copy, I'd contact him immediately!

-- Dr. Todd

UPDATE
The author Bernard Defrance emailed me and notes that there are still copies available. They are 110 Euros (including shipping) and you can contact him directly at defrance.vallees@orange.fr -- it is definitely worth owning!

Thursday Review: ORCA's Reel News (Nov-Dec 2012)

The latest issue of my favorite tackle publication -- The Reel News (Nov-Dec. 2012) -- has just hit the news stands! And it has a ton of great stuff in it.

We start with the dean of fishing historians, the incomparable Steve Vernon. Steve gives us the skinny on Fred Wilkie's patented clutch mechanism, which was used on some amazing nineteenth century New York style reels. It's another in a long line of groundbreaking pieces from Vernon, who (rumor states) is closing in on the final stages of his magnum opus.

Mike Cacioppo gives us another segment of Penn history with the Quick Apart reels. Quick Aparts were popular in the pre-war era, and Penn added its offerings to a very crowded market, and some of them can be tough to find.

Ben Wright gives us a ton of info on two-speed spinning reels. I have always wondered why this idea never got traction, and Ben does a good job explaining to us why.

Bob Miller gives us the 1950s in Pflueger reels. It's a great series he's undertaken, and I love reading about how Pflueger tried to keep up with the changing nature of the tackle industry.

Len Sawisch gives us a lighter piece, "Look What Carl Made Me Do," which is a story about a really neat Shakespeare reel.

My own offering this issue was a history of the trade reels of J.C. Penney. I grew up shopping Penney's and always have had a soft spot for these reels.

If you are not an ORCA member--and at this point I'm just going to roll my eyes if you aren't--you can join us by Clicking Here. The Reel News is lovingly edited by Richard K. Lodge.

-- Dr. Todd

Thursday Review: Classic Angling (Sept/Oct 2012)

Thursday Review: Classic Angling (Sept/Oct 2012)

The latest issue of the great magazine Classic Angling has hit the stands, and boy is it a good one.



In addition to the tremendous coverage of important fishing news that this magazine specializes in, the feature articles are outstanding as well. I was pleased that both my article on the Keely tackle trailer and my appeal to the NFLCC about the nationals got coverage in this section.

There were some excellent features as well. A nice biography of the late James Hardy, a great article on Australian Seamaster reels by our own Ben Wright, Keith Elliott on the carp that changed the (fishing) world, a frightening look at what may come to pass (a jellyfish world) by Neil Freeman, John Bailey on a big rudd, Jason Lewis on displaying flies, and the fabulous column by Judith Head on vintage fishing writing (this one on a famed forger who wrote a great fishing poem).

There is always neat coverage of important books and tackle auctions. The magazine is a must read for anyone who wants to stay abreast of fishing history and the world of collecting.

It is ably edited by Keith Elliott and has a new and improved web site.

-- Dr. Todd

THURSDAY REVIEW: September 2012 Reel News

THURSDAY REVIEW: September 2012 Reel News

The mailbox had a sweet surprise in store for me--the September 2012 issue of The Reel News, the official organ of ORCA. This issue was packed to the gills with great stuff.

We lead off with a great article by Michael Hackney called "A John Betts Reel" in which he breaks down a hand-made reel from this fly fishing master inside and out. It's a great overview.

Bob Miller outdid himself with "Pflueger FIshing Lines: A Brief History" which is a detailed history of the lines made by Enterprise Manufacturing of Akron, Ohio. It's an awesome article.

Stu Lawson's always interesting column gives us a ton of "Seldom Seen Reels and features the Ercoa, Whirlaway, Flo-Line, and other oddballs I love.

Jim Schottenham's always interesting "Auction Report" showcases a ton of reels that were awesome on eBay. It's always one of my favorite things.

Ben Wright's Spinning Lines column covers a super rare wooden Australian fishing reel in"The Holy Grail of Aussie Spinning Reels"

Mike Cacioppo gives us "The Penn Bay Side, Sea Ford, and Sea Kings: Questionable Beginnings" covering these early Penn reels. It's a well-done article as always.

My own contribution was "L.A.'s William H. Hoegee Co." and it covered this firm's nifty Penguin brand trade reels.

Another great issue from this great organization.

If you are not an ORCA member--come on people, JUST DO IT--you can join us by Clicking Here. The Reel News is lovingly edited by Richard K. Lodge.

-- Dr. Todd

Thursday Review: The Colors of Bagley Web Site

There's a terrific new Bagley web site called The Colors of Bagley. It's run by Mike Metzler, and I think it is flat-out awesome.


As is well-known, I am very intrigued with the history of bass fishing, and in particular, bass fishing tackle. We are currently getting ready to launch a new book on bass fishing legend Bill Plummer. Of all the bass fishing tackle icons, I like Jim Bagley the best. The sheer fun of collecting Bagleys is hard to match anywhere -- from the most affordable to ultra rare baits, it offers something for everyone.

This site is divided into sections, but two are of the most interest to collectors. The Collections section shows some incredible displays Mike has put together on tackle ranging from Shiners and Pinfish to Shimano 201.

An important section is the Color Codes and Values which shows almost 450 different Bagley colors. When it comes to colors, it is among the most comprehensive web sites of this kind around. The pictures are clear and bright.

It also has a section for Site Links, Lures for Sale, and a Trading Post.

Overall, this is a web site you will want to bookmark. The link will be permanently available to the right.

-- Dr. Todd

Thursday Review: ORCA Reel News (July 2012)

Thursday Review: ORCA Reel News (July 2012)

I always look forward to the coming of ORCA's Reel News, and this issue (July 2012) was full of interesting articles.

The feature article this issue was Bill Sonnett's "The Joys of Using Antique FIshing Tackle" which is, as far as I'm concerned, the best primer on using antique gear you will find. As we are currently running a Vintage Tackle Contest here on the blog, which you can read about by clicking here, this kind of article is always of great interest to me.

Michael Hackney gives us another of his analysis of early reels with "The Orvis 1874 Patented Fly Reel." It looks at the groundbreaking and very rare ventilated spool fly reel invented by Manchester's legendary Charles Orvis.

Michael Cacioppo continues his analysis of Penn Reels with "The Penn Sea Hawk." It details this popular Penn surf reel.

Jim Schottenham gives us the Auction Report, which covers all the gems sold on eBay over the past two months. Lots of great reels of late!

My own contribution this issue was a detailed history of Sportmaster fishing reels. Sportmaster was a name used by Supplee-Biddle Hardware and cooperatively applied to fishing tackle sold by a loose confederation of hardware companies.

Bob Miller gives us a great piece on Pflueger reels. "7 Decades of the Pflueger Reel: 1940-1949" details the war years for the Enterprise Manufacturing Company. Very cool stuff as usual!

Ben Wright gives us the skinny on the Orvis 100 Italian made reels, and the Spinning Reel Report which originally is published on this web site finally makes it way into the pages of the Reel News.

Finally, Stu Lawson writes on transitional Pflueger Medalist fly reels. They are very cool, and Stu has some neat stories behind one of them.

All in all, it was a great issue very much covering the many attributes that ORCA has going for it -- there was a reel for every taste in these pages!

-- Dr. Todd

Thursday Review: The NFLCC Magazine (June 2012)

Well, the mail certainly brought an outstanding surprise -- the NFLCC Magazine for June 2012! Although it comes out every six months, it is my most anticipated publication as I am always in awe of the way that editor Dudley Murphy (with help from assistant editor Gary Smith) put this together. It's always a beautiful magazine.

This issue, I began a series on the history of fishing ephemera, concentrating on the collecting of fishing tackle related letterheads. This field of collecting has exploded and it was a blast putting this together.

Terry McBurney gives us the first part of a two-part history of Charles Helin. "Charles Helin's Extraordinary Flatfish" is a detailed and fascinating study of this titan of American fishing tackle. It includes some photos of the rarest of all Helins, the hand made models from 1934. It's an amazing piece of research.

Speaking of awesome articles, combining Jerry R. Martin and Jim Dorr. "Heddon Fly Rod Lures: Part I -- Morphing Patterns, Specials and Experimental Activities (An Archaeological 'Dig' Into the Past) is as fine of an article of this kind as has been published. Incredibly detailed, well written, and meticulously researched, it is a real delight.

As the magazine was going to press I got a call from Dudley Murphy asking if I had an article ready to go, as one that was promised at the deadline did not appear (these things happen all the time). I was in the midst of researching and writing on the subject of Dr. Arthur Howald, the inventor of the fiberglass fly rod, so I hurriedly finished the draft and sent it in. "Dr. Arthur Howald's Marvelous Invetion" hopefully offers some new insight into the origins of the glass fly rod, as well as fiberglass fishing rods in general.

As I mentioned many times, my favorite thing is the back page article by Gary Smith--it's a fabulous one again on the Keen Kicker frog.

All in all, this is a fantastic issue filled with great research.

-- Dr. Todd

Thursday Review: Art Dollosso's Where Trout Sing and Other San Francisco Stories

Reading Where Trout Sing and Other San Francisco Stories, the new book by California fly angler and author Art Dollosso, is like sitting around a campfire listening to a master story teller weave a series of overlapping tales. I swear at times I can actually here the hissing and popping of the fire while absorbing the engaging prose that makes this book so entertaining.


Books like this rarely get published these days, and that isn't just a shame--its a damn shame. There was a time fifty or more years ago when books like this would have been published several times a year, and one could fill in the gaps between good fly fishing writings by gleaning the pages of Field & Stream, Hunting & Fishing, and National Sportsman for the latest exploits of Lee Wulff or Ray Bergman.

No more, at least when it comes to magazines. However, a few writers like Dollosso and fellow Californian John Parmenter have sought in recent years to resurrect these autobiographical fly fishing epistles that so many of us devoured in years past.

Dollosso's path to fly fishing was not easy. Growing up in a tough part of San Francisco, where most of the stories take place, he took to fly fishing early -- or perhaps it's best to say that fly fishing took him early. All the evidence one needs to support this particular theory can be found in the chapter "Dan Bailey's Vest," a charming story about Dollosso as a young man and the expensive fly angler's vest he purchased with the kind of toil and sacrifice only a teenager who's friends were tossing rocks in the river and cracking wise with the girls while he was delivering papers can understand. He writes of his beloved Dan Bailey vest:

It is safe to say an angling accoutrement is not quite like, or as sentimental as, that first kiss, or that first love. Yet it does have meaning, like a long life, or hope. Pass it on.

Aspiring fly angling writers take note. This is how you write without pretense about a sport all too full of pretentious snobs.

I could go on, about his take on opening day, about the peculiar Italian-American community in San Francisco where he came of age, of his tough childhood that keeps pulling him back like a magnet, helping him to make sense of the present and the man that he became. But that would be spoiling it, and Dollosso is a writer who should be read in a comfortable chair on a quiet evening when the kids are sleeping over and the spouse has gone to bed. In a perfect world, you would have a hunting dog curled up at your feet and a double finger of a single malt by your side.

(Just so you don't think I'm a pretentious snob, while reading this book I had a half-Australian cattle dog/half long haired dachshund rescue dog snoring away on the couch next to me, and a glass of orange juice to drink. True story.)

If you like writing in ALL CAPS, strings of expletives in place of descriptive dialogue, gratuitous "grip and grin" fishing photos and other tropes of the internet generation of fly angling scribes, I'm afraid you probably won't like Art Dollosso's writing. Too each their own. But if you're looking for a book that deftly melds autobiography, history, fly fishing, and the meaning of life, than you will love Where Trout Sing.

It's been a really good couple of years for books like this, but we who love this kind of writing should not become overconfident. We should celebrate every single time a book like Where Trout Sing gets into print. They are too few and far between to grow complacent.

Art Dollosso is a great story teller and has written a charming book that transcends its California setting.

This hardcover (with dust jacket) book is privately published and is 163 pages in length. It has a brief foreword by fly fishing icon Russell Chatham, and is available exclusively through Jim Adams at Adams Angling in San Francisco. The price is $24.95 and Jim offers free shipping. You can contact him at the link above or by calling 510-849-1324.

-- Dr. Todd

Thursday Review: The Bud Snyder Collection

Three weeks from tomorrow the collection of the late William R. "Bud" Snyder will go to gavel by Houghton Auctions of Zumbrota, Minnesota.

I knew Bud Snyder a little back in the day--few collector in Minnesota during the 1980s and 1990s did not cross paths with Bud back then. He was a colorful character, that's for sure, and its probably best to leave it at that. No sense in getting in to the problems that caused his falling out with the NFLCC.

Another thing is certain--Bud owned a lot of fishing tackle. A LOT of tackle. I suspect that this auction, with 1000+ lots, is only what's left of Bud's collection. But what there is exemplary of the old school method of collecting, which is probably best called "accumulating."

Much of the tackle was made into a massive display of tackle that Bud had on display.



Fortunately, auctioneer Todd Houghton has put up photos of the 1000+ lots (although a few aren't very clear) and opened the bidding to the internet through ProxyBid service. There's a lot of junk to wade through, befitting an accumulator's collection, of course, but there is also some really nice pieces and an occasional diamond. It's well worth checking out.

Whatever else might be said, there is one truism: Bud Snyder loved old fishing tackle, and his collection is a testament to that singular fact.

You can view large scale photos of the auction items at Houghton's web site, or go directly to the auction catalog by clicking here.

-- Dr. Todd

Thursday Review: Fly-Fishing: The Sacred Art--Casting a Fly as a Spiritual Practice

Thursday Review: Fly-Fishing: The Sacred Art--Casting a Fly as a Spiritual Practice

A very special book on fishing has just been published--but I'll warn you. It's about more than fishing. It's about the Bigger Things.

Now I know you probably have seen a hundred purported texts about the Bigger Things, but I don't think you've come across one like this before. It's called Fly-Fishing: The Sacred Art--Casting a Fly as a Spiritual Practice and it is written by Rabbi Erik Eisenkramer and Rev. Michael Attas (Skylight Press, 2012) and it is wonderful.


Many of you will know Rabbi Eisenkramer from his brilliant blog The Fly Fishing Rabbi. Dr. Attas is a cardiologist, an Episcopal priest, and dedicated fly angler. Both men are hugely qualified to write not only about fly fishing, but about life.

Many of us treat fly fishing like a religion. Rabbi Eisenkramer and Rev. Attas reveal to us in this wonderfully written and inspirational epistle that fly fishing is not a religion, but it can -- if approached the right way -- bring us closer to each other, nature, and God. On every page, we are reminded that fishing is not just about catching fish; instead, it is the journey that matters and the fish, and the waters they inhabit, are simultaneously our inspiration and our guides. Thoughtful and articulate throughout, a careful read of this exceptional book will make you a better fly angler, but more importantly, it will make you a better person.

I don't want to spoil the impact of the story but I will end this brief review by saying that every fly angler--whether agnostic or dedicated from a religious standpoint--will benefit in some way from this lovely little book.

The book is available from Amazon.com and directly from the publisher Skylight Paths. This softcover book lists at $16.99 and is 140 pages in length.

-- Dr. Todd

Thursday Review: The Reel News (May 2012)

Thursday Review: The Reel News (May 2012)

This is a beefy issue full of great articles.

The cover story goes to the wonderful Hurd Supercaster. The article itself, written by the wonderful Terry McBurney, is just an amazing history of this fine casting tool with a loyal and devoted following. There was a time you could pick up a nice Hurd for $50. Not anymore!

Noted Penn historian Michael Cacioppo gives us another fine article on his favorite reels. "The Penn Squidder 140 and Its Descendants" is a great overview of this workhorse reel.

Bob Miller's "Pflueger Pfacts" column details Enterprise advertising and promotion throughout the years, which includes lots of awesome ads.

My own contribution is an article on the trade reels of Farwell, Ozmun, Kirk & Co. of St. Paul, Minnesota. They sold some very cool trade reels.

Regular columnists include Ben Wright, who gave us a nice look at the elusive (and very expensive) Seamaster spinning reels, as well as a spinning reel auction report. Stu Lawson offers up the adventures of a reel nut, and Michael Hackney outlines the Meisselbach Featherlight in his "Reelflections" column.

We also get some welcome additions from Phil Dawson, who wrote a very cool history of line dryers, and Dave O'Rourke, on reels and links to his hometown. Finally, we get a review of ORCA member Tom Green's new book A Net Full of Tails.

If you are not an ORCA member--come on people, JUST DO IT--you can join us by Clicking Here. The Reel News is lovingly edited by Richard K. Lodge.

-- Dr. Todd

-- Dr. Todd

Thursday Review: Tom Greene's A Net Full of Tails

Thursday Review: Tom Greene's A Net Full of Tails

The Daytona show is always great fun, in part because Larry Lucas and his merry band of volunteers have show running down to an art form. You can tout any number of things from a laundry list of reasons why this show is a "can't miss" event--up there with the NFLCC and ORCA Nationals. But at the top of my list is that it is always full of surprises.

One of the interesting things to happen this past Daytona show was running into tackle collecting legend Tom Greene. Tom is, of course, famous for his legendary saltwater big game tackle collection, but he's also extremely well-known in Florida fishing circles as an expert angler. Having literally grown up fishing, and counting as his regular partners names like Mark Sosin, he now runs Custom Rod & Reel Tackle Outfitters out of Lighthouse Point, Florida.

Few people know the world of fishing better than Tom, which is why I was so delighted to discover at the Daytona Show that he'd finally put pen to paper and written a fishing memoir. A Net Full of Tails: "Reel" Stories that Capture the Essence of Fishing, co-written with Steve Kantner (2012), is a fascinating series of fishing vignettes that help capture one man's passion for angling.


Greene has truly led a fishing life, and it shows in the stories he relates. From reluctant "$1000 a day" snook fishing guiding to a run in with a truly epic hammerhead shark to a surreal bass fishing tournament with a tragic ending to field finds with incredible stories behind them, Tom recounts his past in an easy-to-read and relatable style.

Perhaps my favorite chapter relates how Tom and several of his friends took it upon themselves to re-open Boca Inlet, which had sealed up naturally as a result of sand and silt. As he and a handful of volunteers began digging by hand, they were joined by a few townsfolk who'd been adversely affected by the closure (and resulting stagnation of Boca Lake). Soon 500 or more volunteers were digging the trench with buckets, shovels, and pitchforks. "By 6:00 p.m., we had completed a trench that was 50 feet wide and several feet deep," he writes. "It ran all the way from the surf to the bend…" With water flow restored, the current did the rest and restored the fresh flow of water to Boca Lake. The rest, as they say, is history.

While there are enough "big fish" stories to keep even the most ardent armchair angler happy, A Net Full of Tails is more than just a fishing book. It's equal parts Florida history, a coming-of-age story, and fishing chronicle. Mostly, however, it's a fun read, and a perfect example of the kind of book the fishing public used to devour in abundance back in the 1950s through the 1970s, until publishers decided the only thing we wanted was another "how-to" book.

Call it a throwback, retro, or whatever label you want to put on it. I call Tom Greene's A Net Full of Tails a delightful way to spend an evening.

The book is available in both hardcover ($29.95) and softcover ($19.95), and to learn more about it go to Tom's Web Site by Clicking Here. To go directly to the order page, Click Here.

You won't regret adding this book to your library.

-- Dr. Todd

Thursday Review: Eddies Magazine (Fall/Winter 2011)

Thursday Review: Eddies Magazine (Fall/Winter 2011)

Another new edition of the very fine magazine Eddies: Reflection on Fisheries Conservation has hit the stands!


Of interest to fishing historians is the really great article on Dewitt Clinton Booth by Carlos R. Martinez. Booth was a hugely influential fisheries biologist who eventually began became the U.S. Fish Commissioner in 1899. Booth's work at Yellowstone was hugely influential on the future of this region's fisheries.

I strongly suggest everyone subscribe to this great magazine. It is integral this information gets out, and is read, by the greater fishing public. The more we know the better equipped we are to deal with the future of our fisheries--a subject of great importance for the 21st century.

Remember, back issues of the magazine can be found on-line by Clicking Here.

-- Dr. Todd

Thursday Review: The Mystique of Ambassadeur: It's Unexplained Stories

This week in our Thursday Review we feature a book that was brought to my attention by Ambassadeur guru Fred Ribb--Simon Shimomura's The Mystique of Ambassadeur: It's Unexplained Stories. It's the third in a series of detailed works from this Ambassadeur expert.


Like all of Simon's books, this one is for the real Ambassadeur nut. It is very technical in places and sometimes delved into things of which I was fairly lost. But there are more than enough engaging stories to tide over the Ambassadeur novice like myself. I particularly enjoyed the little tidbits like learning the Ambassaduer 4500 (which I had when I was younger) came in two different spool sizes.

The book is a series of essays brought together between the covers of a book, and as this my favorite kind of tackle book, I was able to delve into it over the course of several weeks. I talked with Simon at the recent Milwaukee show and discovered him to be as open and engaging as his books are.

Shimomura is a very good writer and researcher and his newest book belongs on the shelf of anyone who considers themselves even a slight Ambassadeur fan.

It is available directly from the author. More information can be find by Clicking Here.

-- Dr. Todd

Thursday Review: November/December 2011 Classic Angling

Thursday Review: November/December 2011 Classic Angling


One of my favorite magazines arrived in the mail today--Britain's Classic Angling. It is an excellent issue once again. The most interesting article to me was the cover story, which dealt with the esoteric subject of fishing-related fans. Yes, fans--as in to fan yourself. They are very beautiful and I am sure that this is the first time the subject matter has been broached to a large audience. Kudos to Keith Elliot for running with such a great pictorial story.

Tons of other articles of interest, as always, including great auction reports and columns from noted writers like Judith Head, John Bailey, and Neil Freeman. There's also a great article on Canada's Islander Reels. All in all it's a great issue.

Another great issue of a magazine really hitting its stride. The magazine is capably edited by Keith Elliott, and is available through subscription by Clicking Here.

-- Dr. Todd

Thursday Review: An Hour of Wacky Fishing Secrets, Bad Jokes, and Great Gadgets

Dick Streater on DVD!

Well, the mail brought a special surprise the other day. My fellow Gopher alumnus and the Henny Youngman of Fishing Dick Streater sent me a DVD copy of his classic one hour presentation Dick Streater Presents: An Hour of Wacky Fishing Secrets, Bad Jokes, and Great Gadgets.

Anyone who hasn't seen this is in for a real treat. Not only do you get Dick's inimitable presentation and style, you also get to see a few dozen of the most bizarre tackle ideas to ever invade an angler's brain.

The DVD runs 60 minutes and I can't recommend it highly enough. If you're interested in a copy, email Dick at lureguru@ aol.com or call him (his number is in the NFLCC Directory).

-- Dr. Todd

Thursday Review: Nov. 2011 ORCA Reel News

Thursday Review: Nov. 2011 ORCA Reel News



One of my favorite days is when the new issue of The Reel News arrives. This issue was especially anticipated as it featured the first of a number of historically important columns written by my friend and noted Mitchell reel expert Wallace Carney.

Wallace's column--entitled "Mitchell Mania"--features a great overview of the origins of Mitchell's first reel that should help us finally put the facts together. For a company that has such a long history and devoted following, its astounding how much misinformation is out there. Wallace's columns will help set the record straight.

This issue was loaded with great research. We get the return of Steve Vernon, who's article "Where's Waltco: It Spawned Kitco's Kitsch" is a great history of this Chicago company's connection to a company I wrote about last issue--Kitco, sellers of the awful Arnold Palmer spinning reels.

My own contribution this issue was a short piece on the history of Steinman's Hardware Co. and their Steiny's Best fishing reels. SInce Steinman's was the oldest existing hardware store in America (having served Washington at Valley Forge), it was a fun article to write.

Michael Hackney gives us what I hope is the first of many articles on fishing reel design when he covered the Roach patent swiveling reel. Michael's column is called "Reelflections" and is highly anticipated.

Bob Miller's "Pflueger Pfacts" column begins a seven decade romp through Pflueger history with the Roaring 1920s. I'm always amazed at how Bob can continue to make his column, which is well over a decade old, fresh and interesting.

Ben Wright's "Spinning Lines" gives us more ultra lights from Italy. Its another great article from the spinning reel maven.

Stu Lawson continues his survey of Pflueger fly reels with the Progress, an often overlooked fly reel in the Pflueger archives.

Jim Schottenham's great "Auction Report" is welcomed back with open arms and, as always, covers the many reels I would buy if I had any extra money lying around.

FInally, Mike Cacioppo (the most patient human being on earth, as I've been delayed four months in publishing his awesome book on Penn--FYI it will be out in the beginning of the New Year) gives us a look at early Penn reels. Incredible, incredible stuff.

So let's recap for a moment. Steve Vernon, a great, great reel historian and author of the seminal work on fishing reels. Wallace Carney, the foremost Mitchell reel expert and world class researcher. Michael Hackney, reelmaker extraordinaire and outstanding researcher. Bob Miller, the acknowledged expert on all things Pflueger. Ben Wright, who's forgotten more about spinning reels than most people will know in their lifetime. Jim Schottenham, who's knowledge of what's valuable is unsurpassed, and who is a world-class scholar and writer. Stu Lawson, who's encyclopedic knowledge of reels is surreal and who helped untold collectors with his Lawson's Guides. Mike Cacioppo, the finest Penn scholar I've ever come across.

READ THAT LIST AGAIN. SERIOUSLY. These men have authored a MINIMUM of 20 books on tackle collecting.

Now tell me if you know of any other organization anywhere that brings this much firepower to the table? IN ONE ISSUE? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I've already worn down this issue to a nub reading and re-reading it!!!

I felt very much like a Sluggo this issue. I better step up my game if I'm going to be in the same pages as these august lights!

If you are not an ORCA member--and at this point I'm just going to roll my eyes if you aren't--you can join us by Clicking Here. The Reel News is lovingly edited by Richard K. Lodge.

-- Dr. Todd