The 2009 Cincinnati Spring Tackle Show

The 2009 Cincinnati Spring Tackle Show

The Cincinnati show was very well attended, in part because it was perhaps the first truly nice day of the year in these parts. Lots of familiar faces and some new ones as well made their way to King's Island, the day before the big carnival with its attendant giant rollercoaster opened for the season.

There were tables in the parking lot as well as open rooms on both sides. Inside the rooms were some neat displays, such as Al John's collection of contemporary baits made by Cedar Creek. These are some very well made baits.


Of course, one of the highlights of the show is going to Mike Hines' room and seeing what amazing thing he's just purchased. This time was no exception; I got an all-aluminum trade reel weighing about an ounce and a half marked for Abbey & Imbrie and made by the Ranger Reel Co. of Michigan. I have never seen an all-alumninum Ranger before, and the bonus of a trade reel is always a great thing for me.


Mike Hines and Steve Lumpkin relax.
Lumpkin and myself must have spent an hour and a half going through Charlie Smolsky's room, which was filled to the gills with lures in cases (partially shown in the picture below). We both ended up with nice pieces for our collection.


Getting to see some of my all-time favorite people, like Johnny Garland and John Caldwell, is always a pleasure. Johnny's roommate had a great collection of Weezel baits made in Cincinnati. Here's a pic of some of the display:


John Caldwell always has great things, too, and as a bonus he brought part of his neat Belknap Hardward Co. tackle display. Super cool stuff, and as a hardware head myself, I loved it. If you ever get anything Belknap, drop John a line!


Sometimes you find interesting and unexpected items lurking on tables. I'd never seen this Handle Rod made in Muskegon, Michigan before. With a Berylium Copper collapsible rod, it was a neat piece of obscure fishing tackle history.


While I had a small amount of money in my pocket, I was able to pick up some cool pieces for my collection. I got eight reels, including the aforementioned A&I Ranger, a Montague marked "Royal Blue Jeweled," a Union Hardware Samson reel with the hinged front plate, a German Silver South Bend 1131A, and a really weird German Silver (I think) MOntague Kentucky style reel marked "Neptune" that has the darkest patina I have ever seen in my life. Five marked hooks (two Mills, vom Hofe, Pflueger and Allcock) kept the happy hooker inside me sated, some snells and line spools for upcoming articles, and even two spinners, including one great tiny Size 1 with the second earliest Pflueger marking. Also came home with a stack of The Fisherman magazines, and even met a man who's dad used to be an editor for it!


All in all it was a great show and if you get a chance to come by in September, take full advantage!

-- Dr. Todd

Friday Funhouse

The Friday Funhouse
A new fly fishing movie is about to be released called Rivers of a Lost Coast...check out the trailer. It looks really cool!



Things I Would Buy If Only I Could Afford Them
Zane Grey Ashaway line has collectors going inzane.


Wow! This Shapleigh's Diamond Brand minnow bucket is a real honey.


Holy Kitchens, batman!


This Heddon 150 in Orange with Black Spots is just an awesome bait!


A Walton Speed Bait? Sure, it might rip your arm out of your socket if you trolled it, but it's a scarce bait.


Looks like someone's been reading up on the Bob Miller Pflueger books...


This is one nasty looking spring loaded trap!


This is a neat fly tying kit, even if the title is misleading.


A CCBC #1800 Underwater Minnow is a rare, rare bait.



Maybe not as rare, however, as a CCBC Bobber.


A Chapman & Son Musky Bait is a nice piece of New York metal.


In honor of Steve Lumpkin's forthcoming History of Millsite, here comes a really rare Daily Double.


A Howe's Vacuum Bait in the original tin is a terrific combo.



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

-- Dr. Todd

Lang's Week, Part 2

Thanks to Dean and Gary yesterday, we got a glimpse of the Lang's catalog yesterday. Today it is my turn to pick my Top 10 from the catalog. Remember, we're not talking about the rarest or most valuable, just things I flat out loved. Here they are, in no particular order.

(Lot 50) 9' Halstead rod. This is a sweet, sweet item from the Marty Keane collection. Halstead is more famous for his ferrules but this is absolutely one of the nicest rods you will find in this auction.


(Lot 150) Pinky Gillum flies. Pinky is a legendary fly rod maker, but this neat lot of flies he tied shows he was also a great fly tier. A nifty set to go along with a Gillum rod!


(Lot 784) Pequea ephemera. This lot of Pequea catalogs and ephemera is another example of how big and important this firm was. While not a "high ticket" item, it is nonetheless a nice peak at the height of this firm's history.


An Ed. K. Tryon hook sample book is warming the heart of his old hook collector.


(lot 1065) This Meek sign would go awesome with anyone's reel collection!


(Lot 1073) Julius vom Hofe Reel. How often do you find a vom Hofe reel marked Dame & Stoddard in a box!


(Lot 1128) Harper Reel. This is a nifty reel with a mysterious marking: R. Harper, Maker, N.Y. I too think it is a Crook reel.


(Lot 1289) Orvis card. This is a rare Orvis trade card. Maybe the rarest of its kind.


(Lot 1719) Skinner lot. A totally awesome 1939 G.M. Skinner World's Fair presentation board is indeed a great piece of fishing history!


(Lot 278) Rhead Books. A really cool set of three books by Louis Rhead, one of the neatest figures in fishing history.



With many eyes watching Lang's, we'll all be interested in seeing how it turns out!

-- Dr. Todd

Lang's Week, Part I

We are fortunate to have a pair of experts weigh in on the upcoming Lang's auction. They've been asked to survey the on-line catalog and pick out items of interest with the following provisos: they don't have to be the most expensive, and they should be items that they themselves aren't bidding on.

Our first expert, Dean Smith, needs little introduction. With three decades of collecting experience, Dean has expertise in numerous areas. Here are his choices:

1. Edward vom Hofe size 3 ½ Perfection, with case ( Lot 1). I like this reel for a few reasons.

a. It is the preeminent American fly reel.

b. The 3 ½ size is incredibly rare.

c. It belonged to my friend Marty Keane.


2. Edward vom Hofe size 3 ½ Peerless, with case ( Lot 965). Even though it has a hairline crack in the back, this, along with the Perfection mentioned above, make the most handsome pair of fly reels I can imagine.


3. Marty Keane’s personal copy of his book “Classic Rods & Rodmakers” ( Lot 270). With this book Marty Keane brought bamboo rodmakers and their craft into the limelight …and put collecting bamboo rods on the map. To this day it is the definitive work on the subject. What better copy to own than the author’s copy.


4. B.F. Meek #6 ( Lot 1061). If you are going to buy just one KY reel in this auction …this is it. It’s not often that hard-rubber KY reels turn up for sale …and this looks to be a stellar example.



5. Sam Carlson 7½’ Quadrate rod. This is the stuff dreams are made of …a short, 3-piece, Carlson quad. Can you imagine how good either of the aforementioned vom Hofe reels would look on this rod !?!



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Our next expert is Gary Smith. Gary is the assistant editor of The NFLCC Magazine and a collector of tremendous knowledge and passion. Here are his choices:

Going through the Lang auction catalog is always an enjoyable exercise. All too often it becomes a wistful experience too, knowing full well that there are collectibles out there I can't afford, that will forever elude me. Such is life….

Having said that, I've found a few auction items that intrigue me, and I'd like to share those with you.

(Lot 1260) The large wooden creel. I'm wondering if this was actually used as a creel or more as a storage container. Regardless, I love the look of it and I like the time period--circa 1930. I also wonder if it perhaps doubled as a canoe seat, as the folks at Lang's suggest. Ah, the utility! Definitely an unusual item and one that one add charm to anyone's plug room.



(Lot 1771) The Pflueger experimental lure. I like this lure not only because it looks cool, but because it's a fascinating part of Pflueger history as well. You can't help but speculate about the testing process of that time and how lure designs were evaluated before the decision was made to proceed with production or forego the idea. Regardless, it's a one of a kind item and it's going to bring a lot of happiness into someone's life.


(Fishing post cards) There are so many interesting post cards in this auction and so many I'd like to have for my small collection. Whether mailed or not, the cards tell a story and they are highly evocative. For me, fishing-related post cards have always added a pleasant dimension to old tackle collecting.


As I've said before, collecting is best enjoyed when it becomes a shared experience. Thanks for inviting me to be a part of the fun.

Many thanks to Dean and Gary for submitting their choices....what are yours? You can check out both day catalogs by Clicking Here. Tune in tomorrow to see mine!

-- Dr. Todd

Voices from the Past: Bert Pruitt (1947)

Here's a nifty poem by Bert Pruitt published in a 1947 edition of Hunting & Fishing magazine.

Year After Year

by Bert Pruitt

I sometimes wish that I could fish
Like other anglers do
Oh, how I'd like to hook a pike
Or land a bass or two!

We've heard men say that every day
They cast into a pool
Fish take the bait as though Dame Fate
Had spawned another school.

We've heard them tell how all goes well
Each time they take a trip.
How fish bite hard and disregard
The damage to the lip.

From this, it seems that all the streams,
And every lake and creek,
Abound and team with fish that dream
Of striking week by week.

To hear such tales you vision whales
As big as Mobie Dick.
You think it's true and vision you
Are ready for your pick.

You toss 'em bugs and fancy plugs,
And worms and frogs and flies;
Your arms get sore, you toss 'em more,
But still they fail to rise.

So once again the point is plain
As antlers on a buck;
"The other guy," you sadly sigh,
"Has all the breaks and luck!"

-- Dr. Todd

News of the Week: 14 April 2009

A monster sea worm terrorizes an aquarium...19th century salmon flies...the dracula fish is all show...Xenia, Ohio ca. 1923--where the book stores sold fishing tackle...a poet is an angler...dancing the Tarpon Tango...Joe's Sports is history...a brief history of the in-line spinner...why the tackle industry will surpass 20 billion by 2015...an argument over tackle ends up with one man shot...it must be THE NEWS OF THE WEEK!

The Big Lead: A museum mystery is solved when aquarium worked in Britain discover what was destroying their coral reef, eating their rare fish, and demolishing traps set to destroy. Oh, it's just your every day, average four foot long giant sea worm with poisonous barbs.


Hatches Magazine has an awesome article on 19th Century Salmon Flies.

The new Dracula fish is a fraud.


Australia's fishing bonanza is a cash cow.

In Xenia, Ohio in 1923, Boring's Book Store sold fishing tackle...really.

In Philly they are hooked on a hobby.

This poet is also an angler.

It's that time again to dance the Tarpon Tango.


Some pieces of old angler wisdom.

Seattle laments the passing of Joe's Sports.


Chesapeake Bay is already producing big Stripers.

Hampton Roads has a new fishing blogger.


A bit of history of the in-line spinner.

Chad Love digs classic tackle.

Analysts believe the fishing tackle industry will surpass 20 billion dollars by 2015!

If its big cod you're looking for, try Norway.


Researchers are looking for help to study the disappearing tuna.

The Chicago Sun-Times writes on muskies.


Does this look like the face of a man who'd shoot another man over fishing tackle? Many thanks to Beebe Stephenson for sending this link my way...



-- Dr. Todd

Streater's Thought of the Week

Every weekend Dick Streater gives us his thought of the week, culled from his voluminous files on fishing and tackle history.

Streater's Thought of the Week: Mr. A.G. Stabler, a train conductor on the Baltimore-Potomac run, planted a few bass in lakes along the railroad tracks. He would stop the train and plant the bass, and after a few years had passed, he would return and fish the planted lakes.

-- Dr. Todd

ANNOUNCEMENT: Baghdad Angler's Club

NFLCC Gazette editor Jim Fleming sent me this email and I wanted to share it with everyone as I think it's a really great service. Many thanks to Jim for sending this our way.

Hi Todd,

I recently became aware of a great R&R project for our servicemen and woman that are serving in Iraq. The Baghdad Anglers Club and Fly Fishing School provides recreational fishing for any of our solders in and around the lakes near Al Faw Palace in Baghdad. The area is now Victory Base.

I am going to try to drum up support from our NFLCC friends, our friends on Joe's board, and my music industry clients. I wish I had known sooner, as they just auctioned off a $5800.00 alaskan fishing adventure. It went for around $1300.00

I have spent the last couple of weeks checking them out, to make sure that this project is on the up & up. The good news is that they are an A+ organization.

Please check out their web site Baghdad Fly Fishing.       

As soon as I find out where we can all send tackle donations to I am going to get started. I will forward some of the return emails that I got on them to you so that you can see what others have to say about them.



Thanks,

Jim

The testimonials Jim forwarded all give this organization an A+. I'll post some updates when Jim gets together a bit more information.

-- Dr. Todd

The Mysterious United States Reels by J.K. Garrett & L.P. Brooks

This weekend we have a bit of mystery submitted to Fishing for History by Jim Garrett and Skip Brooks. I've written about the United States reels before when I penned a "Reels of the Trade" article about the VIM Company of Chicago, whom I believe sold these reels. Can you help out their research project?

The Mysterious United States Reels

by J.K. Garrett and L.P. Brooks

The reel series designated as "United States" reels are thought to be examples of standard inexpensive Bronson manufacture so far as is known. It is suspected they were made for and sold by the VIM company of Chicago in the 1930's but no advertising for them has yet been identified in available VIM catalogs. Reels were named after either States or in one case a River (Algonac) in available examples.

Three classes of reels are known to have been sold and they are as follow:

1) Casting (Ohio, Penn, Illinois and Indiana)
2) Fly (Algonac, Dakota, and Idaho)
3) Salt Water (Florida).

Although the boxes for Fly and Salt Water reels are clearly marked as United States reels and the model (i.e. Florida) is printed on the box, the reels themselves in available examples are unmarked as to maker or seller. This is not the case for United States Casting reels. In each of the three cases where we have a reel, the name is stamped on the headplate. We have a box for the Ohio but have not seen an example of the reel. If it follows the example set by the other United States casting reels it will also have the name stamped on it. It is worth noting that, although we have a very small population of boxes to study, in cases where we have multiple examples of boxes for the same reel, (i.e. Penn and Florida) there are substantial differences in box color or labeling.



If anyone has a box, a reel, or any advertisement for United States reels which will add to the information presented above, please contact us at reelguys AT aol DOT com.

Thanks to Jim and Skip for this neat little piece. Hopefully other collectors with United States reels will chime in!

-- Dr. Todd