Voices from the Past: The Day the Tackle Ads Stopped (1893)

Voices from the Past: The Day the Tackle Ads Stopped (1893)

As statisticians tell us we have exited a major recession in the last financial quarter, I thought it would be interesting to run a little piece in Voices from the Past to show how the tackle industry was impacted by a similar economic downturn in 1893, referred to as the Depression of 1893 or the Panic of 1893.

Brought about by a collapse in the railroad industry--America's largest business--and worsened by a run on gold and silver, the Depression of 1893 saw unemployment spiral from 3% in 1892 to a high of 18.4% in 1894. It would not drop below 11.7% again until 1898, meaning this economic downturn lasted five years. At one point, 15,000 American businesses failed every month.


The financial panic was chronicled in this 1896 Broadway melodrama.
How did it effect the tackle industry? Many stalwart companies such as Thomas J. Conroy were forced into bankruptcy. By 1899, such titans of the Victorian tackle trade as U.S. Net & Twine and Merwin, Hulbert & Co. had vanished.

But even companies that survived were hurt. Here's an ad from May 11th, 1893 Forest & Stream showing how much the fortunes of even Abbey & Imbrie had been hit.


The firm had begun advertising with the magazine almost exactly 20 years before, and had not missed a single issue. To halt all advertising--even for a short period, as they returned not long afterward--is a remarkable example of how the economic panic had hit all quarters.

So let's pause and remember today the economic distress of the 1890s, and how, for a brief period, it even stopped the advertising for the best known New York trade house.

-- Dr. Todd

News of the Week: 08 November 2010

EPA denies the lead tackle ban...Sydney gets a new tackle shop...B.A.S.S. has new owners...be loud on the ice...the Art of the Angler show gets some neat press...why a good fishing sidekick is hard to find...Irish rainbows...bamboo bikes...the best NASCAR fishing story you'll ever hear...Illinois angler catches and releases 105 pound blue catfish...my story about my father makes ESPN...it must be THE NEWS OF THE WEEK!

The Big Lead: The EPA denies the lead fishing tackle ban.

Sydney, Australia gets a big new tackle shop.


Jerry McKinnis and his investor group finalize their plan to buy B.A.S.S.

Ted Takasaki says be loud and be heard on the ice.

Aussies who catch the biggest mackerel can win a prize!

And in your final Aussie fishing news this week, angler found dead with a tuna still hooked to his line.


A neat article about the Stamford Art of the Angler Show.

Why a good fishing sidekick is an endangered species.

In Ireland, they are having a bout over rainbow trout.


This bike maker is making bicycles...out of bamboo?


One of the greatest fishing stories ever involving NASCAR legends Dale Earnhardt and Neil Bonnett.



Illinois angler catches and releases 100+ pound blue catfish.


Fly fishing with a twist...

One writer opines on bamboo rods.

Fall stocking at Green Valley Lake.

Fly Fishing in Victoria.

Outdoors Girl gives us fish porn from New York.


Finishing with a Flourish: For those who missed it, my birthday epistle for my father on ESPN.



-- Dr. Todd

A Jack Daniels Fishing Story

I know this is an old story but it was new to me, and made me laugh...sent in by an old Southern gentlemen friend of mine, then again by my brother-in-law.

 Jack Daniel's Fishing Story

I went fishing this morning but after a short time I ran out of worms. Then I saw a cottonmouth with a frog in his mouth. Frogs are good bass bait.

Knowing the snake couldn't bite me with the frog in his mouth I grabbed him right behind the head, took the frog, and put it in my bait bucket.

Now the dilemma was how to release the snake without getting bit. So, I grabbed my bottle of Jack Daniel's and poured a little whiskey in its mouth. His eyes rolled back, he went limp. I released him into the lake without incident and carried on fishing using the frog.

A little later, I felt a nudge on my foot. There was that same snake with two frogs in his mouth.

Life is good in the South.

-- Dr. Todd

1000 Words

1000 Words

For the next few weeks, we get some great photos from Terry Oxley's photo book. This second one is a great artistic picture. Take it away, Terry:

The sunset photo is me. My wife (Wendie) has started being a bit creative with a camera when we are out on the lake fishing now. This particular one was taken on Lake Minocqua, probably in late September 2009.



-- Dr. Todd

Deconstructing Old Ads: The Heddon Stanley Pork Rind Minnow

The Heddon Stanley Pork Rind Minnow

The Heddon-Stanley PorkRind Minnow was featured in this full page ad from the March 1923 issue of Outer's Recreation Magazine. William Stanley was a Chicago Plumber who was not only a nationally recognized tournament caster, he also sold the Stanley Weedless Hook for which he had received a patent in 1907. Just prior to the time of this advertisement, he entered into an agreement with the Heddon Company in which he would design baits for them which would carry his name and they in turn they would manufacture and sell the Stanley Weedless Hook, paying him royalties, of course. You will note at the bottom of this advertisement the notice that hereafter the Stanley line of flys and hooks will be sold through the Heddon Company.


The Heddon-Stanley Weedless PorkRind Minnow was designed to compete with the Al Foss Oriental Wiggler. The first year it featured a tail attachment for the porkrind (as shown here) and appeared to be made of celluloid. The following year the tail attachment was missing and the body was made from a newer and more stable form of plastic. Unfortunately, Al Foss did not take this lying down and sued the Heddon Company for patent infringement. As part of the settlement the Heddon-Stanley PorkRind Minnow was no longer produced.

One can only imagine that there must have been an unused barrel full of the spinners that were designed specifically for this lure. These spinners which have the words “Heddon Stanley” written in script across the front surface, showed up for many years on baits for which the were not originally designed. This is especially true during the Great Depression when all sorts of leftover hardware from past productions found their way onto what collectors today refer to as “Depression Baits.”

-- Bill Sonnett

The Friday Funhouse

The Friday Funhouse

Video of the Week

How to Test A Fly Reel...with a Greyhound?



Things I Would Buy If Only I Could Afford Them

This McHarg A&I Shield Spinner is a great lure!


This Pflueger 2800 in the box is just an incredible find!


Wow. This is an incredible Heddon Spin Diver!


When's the last time you've seen an Allcock Brass Minnow?


I have never seen a Heddon Punkinseed in this color before...


Wow! What an incredible Leather tackle box!


Say "Oui" to Francois the Frog.


Everyone likes an Orvis 50A Spinning Reel!


America the Beautiful (reel).


Why can't I find a case of Heddon Magnum Hedd Plugs?


Glass Minnow Tubes are neat baits, and they don't get much finer than this Detroit model.


Old Fighter Lures in boxes are sweet baits.


This is a neat Marathon dealer display.


An Arjon Commader Malung is a fabulous Swedish reel.



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

-- Dr. Todd

Happy Birthday, Dad!

It's my dad's birthday, and to celebrate it, every year I write a story for his birthday. This year, ESPN/Bassmaster was kind enough to run my dad's birthday article. Many thanks to Ken Duke for finding this worthy of publishing.

Read A Perfect Day Fishing by Clicking Here.

-- Dr. Todd

Thursday Review: ORCA's Reel News (Nov. 2010)

Thursday Review: ORCA's Reel News (Nov. 2010)

The mailbox brought a welcome site, the latest Reel News, the bi-monthly magazine of the Old Reel Collector's Association (ORCA).

Bob Miller gives us a wonderful Pflueger Pfacts column entitled "Waste Not, Want Not" in which he opines on the interchangeable parts for Pflueger reels. Another magnificent epistle from the dean of Pflueger reels.

Stu Lawson offers up a welcome column entitled "Scams and Other Fun Stuff" where he tells some tales of woe from his selling days, as well as gives us a great update on his health. We're all thinking of you, Stu!

Charlie Tanner gives us a wonderful article, "The Men Behind Wright & McGill" which is both a history of W&M and their various reels. Nifty job, Charlie!

Ben Wright, the resident spinning reel guru, gives us an article on the Cargem 33 Mignon Ultra-Lite spinning reel. Like all of Ben's work, it is accurate, concise, and easily understandable.

My own contributions this issue included a discourse on one of the rarest Chicago trade reels: Foss Brothers. It tells the fascinating story of a pair of brothers from a wealthy Chicago family who ended up starting a high-end sporting shop that sold some incredible high-end reels.

I also sent in a short little piece on a tour of the French spinning reel factory Centaure from a 1950s Fishing Tackle Trade News. It's a nifty little piece.

Jim Schottenham gives us the eagerly awaited "Auction Report" which just underscores how little I get to see on eBay every month.

Finally, there are three pages devoted to a letter from British tackle writer Graham Turner, who takes great umbrage at British reel historian John Drewett's recent commentary about Graham's latest book.

Another fine issue. If you are not an ORCA member--and why aren't you?--you can join us by Clicking Here. The Reel News is capably edited by Richard K. Lodge.

-- Dr. Todd

Baseball and Fishing: One Last Pitch

Baseball and Fishing: A Final Entry

Well, I'd be remiss to let the World Series come to an end (congratulations to the beleaguered Giants fans!) without one final article on baseball and fishing. This one comes from NFLCC member Matt Lollman, who has a tremendous story to tell. Here it is in his own words:

As you may or may not know my granddad and great granddad, Steve O'Neil and Skeeter Webb, were the only father and son (technically father-in-law/son-in-law) player-manager team to ever win the word series. This was for the 1945 Detroit Tigers.

Steve actually played with Babe Ruth on the 1925 Yankees and earlier had played with Shoeless Joe Jackson and won the pennant and World Series with Cleveland in 1920.


Steve O'Neill as an Indian, where he spent 13 seasons.


James L. "Skeeter" Webb spent 12 years in the majors with five teams, winning a world series in 1945 under his father-in-law O'Neill.

Here is a picture of my grandfather with Babe Ruth:


Thanks, Matt! I would also note that Steve O'Neill, Matt's great-grandfather, was one of SIX brothers, all of whom played in the major leagues! Two of Steve's daughters married major leaguers, including Skeeter Webb, Matt's grandfather. So no matter where Matt turns in his family tree, he's going to run into a major league baseball player!

Matt also had a story to relate about a major tackle manufacturer and a sponsored baseball team, but alas, baseball season is over for 2010. You'll just have to come back when Baseball and Fishing resumes again in 2011! After all, spring training is only four months away....

-- Dr. Todd

Voices from the Past: Isaac McLellan (1886)

Isaac McLelllan was the resident poet of the early American Angler, contributing dozens of pieces from the early 1880s to the 1890s. They were eventually collected into a charming little book called Poems of the Rod and Gun where Will Wildwood (the noted F.E. Pond) wrote an appreciation of him. McLellan was a friend and correspondent of Henry W. Longfellow and wrote the poems for Genio Scott's famed Fishing in American Waters. Here is one of my favorite of his poems.


WHEN THIS OLD ROD WAS NEW

WHEN this old rod was new,
'Twas in the vanish'd time,
When step was light and eye was bright,
And youth was in its prime. 

Oh! bright were then the skies
In the glory of the dawn, 

When the dews that gemm'd the grass 

Shone in the rosy morn.

Then oped the garden gate,
And down the bowery lane,
Hedg'd in with elm and chestnut,
My hasty path was ta'en;
And to the brawling brooks
That thro' the meadows twine
I hurried fast, with heart elate,
With the new rod and line.

When this old rod was new,
Full oft by the mill-dam edge,
Where the water-lilies grew
And the cat-tails and the sedge,
I stood on the bank, and threw
My line for the perch and bream,
In the cool, transparent stream,
When this old rod was new.

And up where the mountain brook
Pour'd swift over stone and sand,
Over yellow sand and crystal stone
I've stood with this rod in hand.
Then, where the dark eddies whirl'd,
In the shadow of pine and yew,
I cast my silken tackle
When this old rod was new.

I knew that under the bank,
Where deep was the pool scoop'd out,
Where the black tree-roots were hidden,
There lurk'd the spotted trout.
Then cautious and muffled my step,
And skilful the cast that I threw,
And glorious the captive prizes
When this old rod was new.

And oft on the ocean border,
Where the salt sea-surges beat,
On weedy and slippery boulder,
Have I stood my daring feet;
And there from profound abysses
The bass from their caves I drew,
Rejoicing in my triumphs
When this old rod was new.

And now that the silver circlet 

Of Time on my head is laid,
And years with their wintry blossoms 

My furrow'd brow invade,
I still by the brook and the seaside,
Those early sports renew,
And find the pastime as pleasant
As when this old rod was new.

-- Dr. Todd

News of the Week: 01 November 2010

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!

Is the lead ban on its way?...world's largest fishing tournament...DBK Lures...Hamptons Bluefish...five star fishing down under...ice fishing reels...surfperch...spawning trout photographer...muskies on the fly...the Kelso NFLCC show gets some love...the Redditch needle museum displays fishing tackle...John Merwin asks if you've made provisions for what to do with your tackle if you die...Hamma Time!...world record tripletail...Putin shows his fishing chops...man charged with carrying weapon (a fishing rod)...it must be THE NEWS OF THE WEEK!

The Big Lead: The nation-wide ban on lead tackle may be here sooner than you think...


World's largest fishing tournament.


This fundraiser is a great kickoff for ice fishing season.


The story behind DBK Lures.



Bluefish in the Hamptons...


Five Stars and Fishing Reels down under.

Frabill announces a line of new ice fishing reels.


This is the time for surfperch.

The fine art of salmon fishing.

Steve Brown photographs spawning trout...


Muskies on the fly is sweeping Wisconsin.


The Kelso NFLCC show gets some great press.

Redditch's Forge Needle Museum is exhibiting a display of local fish hooks and tackle through Nov. 30.


Field & Stream's John Merwin asks, what will happen to your gear when your gone?

The Mississippi River is giving up some huge cats.


Aussie catches record black bream.


Ned Crabb opines on the lure of fishing Central Park.

Stop--Hamma Time!


Chico State's bass club is making waves.


The aptly named Big Fish Column.


Greg Parker nets a world record tripletail.


Don't miss the small stuff.


Vladimir Putin showing off his fishing chops again.



Finishing with a Flourish: British man charged with possession of an offensive weapon--a fishing rod.

-- Dr. Todd