An Angler's Miscellany with Gary L. Miller

A while back (June 17, 2014) in Dr. Todd’s "Voices from The Past” column he commented about how in the early days of bait casting lures were considered a “novelty”. The following item illustrates that point in spades. I especially love the “done things to the bass” remark, as though there were some sort of witchcraft involved.

An article from the July 3rd, 1903 (Traverse City, Michigan) Evening Record, is very revealing of the fever that gripped the local fishing fraternity. The headline read, “CRAZE OVER BAIT CASTING – WAS INTRODUCED IN THE CITY BY F. W. CARVER. Now Everybody is After a Short Rod, an Easy Running Reel and a ‘Spinnerino.’ Traverse City fishermen have certainly got the bait casting craze, and F. W. Carver, more than any other is to blame for it. The thing that did it more than anything else was the first real killing that Mr. Carver made after his arrival here. He had been up during the summer before this year, and had ‘done things’ to the bass, but there were not so many people who knew it. But one day he did a little trick that set the people crazy. He went to a certain lake where once in a long while a black bass is caught. But the generally accepted idea has been that there were no bass in that lake, or at any rate but very few. Early in the week, shortly after the opening of the season for bass, F. W. Carver and brother, O. P., went to this lake. O. P. caught a few bass. But most of the time he was taking them off the hook for the Hoosier from Angola. They put back the little ones. In fact, they kept nothing under 12 inches long. But just the same, they brought back 30 fine black bass, and had the fish to show for it when they got to town. Then Bert Winnie heard about it. And Bert had to learn bait casting. Of course it did not take him long. And now Bert goes everywhere, up and down stream, pulling out from under the bush on the opposite side of the stream a big pickeral, and from underneath the log in the center of the stream a fine bass. It’s lots of fun for Bert, and amusement for the people who see how he does it, but cannot do it themselves. Even the little boys are taking it up. It is no rare thing now to see a boy trying the fancy shoots, and getting his line tangled just as nicely as the grown-ups. Meanwhile the sale of reels and short rods and long lines and phantom and North Channel minnows, Shakespeares, ‘spinnerinos’ of every description, in fact, goes merrily on. The dealers in fishing tackle are enjoying it, and the bass and pike do not seem to mind it much.”

— Gary L. Miller

An Angling Miscellany with Gary L. Miller

The following picture is of folk art lures from the estate of Dr. Albert J. Schmaler (1881-1942) of Hillman, Michigan. Schmaler was a noted love of flowers who, according to his obituary in the Alcona county newspaper, “his Gladiolus gardens attracted many flower lovers each summer.” He also made some gorgeous fishing lures. (Gary Miller photo).



— Gary Miller

A Fishing Miscellany with Gary L. Miller: Fish Catches Man

The following article was found in the Lacrosse Tribune for January 11, 1951 and outlines the absurdity of angling.

Fish Catches Man

Edwardsburg, Mich. A man got caught by a fish here.

And David Quinn, Jr., has a leg full of teeth marks – and two witnesses – to prove it.

Quinn and two friends, James Bigelow and Richard Howard, were ice fishing on Eagle Lake Monday. Quinn speared a four-pound pickerel.

Suddenly he burst from his shanty with a yelp.

The pickerel had embedded its sharp teeth in Quinn's leg and was hanging on with an iron-like grip. It took several minutes to pry its mouth open with sticks.

"First time a fish ever put the bite on me," Quinn chuckled. "But I got even. I put the bite on him for dinner."

-- Gary L. Miller

An Angling Miscellany with Gary L. Miller: A Fish Story (1891)

This article was first published in the Marshall Statesman for September 18, 1891. It is well worth the read …





-- Gary L. Miller

An Angling Miscellany with Gary L. Miller

As we are well into spearing season in the north, I felt the following article was printed in the Ludington Daly News for March 17, 1951 was appropriate.M.br>
We hooked onto another unusual fish story this week, and when we type this story we're not just flapping our fingers.

A short time ago, Clyde Eckley, local carpenter, borrowed the fish shantv of George Brant, local Dow well checker and Clyde's neighbor. Clyde wanted to do some spearing so he bought himself a ten-Inch live sucker for a decoy and started out for Lower Hamlin lake where George's shanty is located.

Fishing was rather mediocre for awhile. That is until a big pike swirled into the hole and grabbed the sucker decoy, tearing it oft the hook and getting away unscathed. Clyde the resorted to an artificial lure for decoy purposes, and it wasn't long before the same hungry pike was back again looking for another easy snack.


However, Clyde was ready for him this time. He speared the big fellow and brought him into the shanty. Then, just to verity his assumption that it was the same fish in both instances, he slit him open to look for his original live decoy. Sure enough, there was the sucker and seemingly none the worse for his hit-and-run experience. So Clyde took the wriggling sucker and put him back into the water as a live decoy again, which he most certainly was.

It was just moments afterwards that another larger pike drifted in for a quick look, and he also got nailed by the carpenter. Scales later revealed
the first pike weighed nine pounds and the second weighed fifteen. It was a very nice haul with the sucker ending up high on the list of lucky personalities. He was tossed into a pail of water where he lived for another week of active decoying.

It was W.C. Fields who said, "Never give a sucker an even break;" but Clyde's sucker deserves a pat on the back. When he was down in the mouth and things looked mighty black, he kept flipping unUl he won . . . with a head AND a tail.

-- Gary L. Miller

An Angling Miscellany with Gary L. Miller

A photo from the Gary L. Miller archives. It's got everything you need. There really isn't anything one could say that would add anything substantial to the scene.



-- Gary L. Miller

An Angling Miscellany with Gary L. Miller

Here's something I just came across that you may find useful for those interested in line research.  I've never heard of Heddon's "Double-Header" Bait-Casting Line before. It's from a blurb in the June 18, 1931 Hardware Age Magazine.

Heddon "Double Header" Bait-Casting Line

"Double-Header" bait casting line, offered by James Heddon's Sons, Dowagiac, Mich., has ends which are double braided. Middle portion of 40 years is light test and five yards near each end is gradually reenforced by braiding in extra strands. By this extra braiding the maker states that double strength and double wear are obtained.

Line may also be reversed, giving it so much extra wear and strength. This line is particularly valuable because the extra strain on it in playing the fish close to the boat, or in landing it, is matched by the greater strength at the ends. "Double-Header" lines are handsomely packaged on individual spools with three sections, showing the heavy ends on either side and the lighter test in the center. Spools are decorated with gilt, and four spools of line in gilt paper are packed in a display box. Line is offered in three weights: 12, 15 and 20-kb. test, with ends 10 lb. heavier. List price of display box is $13.00. It includes 1 12-kb. center line No. 12/22 list, $3.00, s spools No. 15/25 with 15-kb. center at $3.25 each, and a spool of 20-kb. center line No. 20/30 at $3.50. Usual dealer discount prevails. Other combinations may be ordered.

-- Gary L. Miller

An Angling Miscellany with Gary L. Miller: Bred Stix

This ad appeared in the January, 1941 issue of The Detroit Sportsman.  No fishing trip would be complete without some of these Bred Stixs.  After all, they'll make your beer taste better and, I presume, put hair on your chest too.






Gary Miller

An Angling Miscellany with Gary L. Miller: Michigan Railroads

As a follow-up to Bill Sonnett's excellent piece on Railroads and Fishing, one of the roads with the greatest interest to Michigan collectors is the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad (GR&I) that dubbed itself, "The Fishing Line." From the late 1800s through the early 20th century they published an annual booklet called, "Where To Go Fishing" (in Michigan). These and other booklets were largely a response to declining revenue due to loss of traffic from the all but bust lumber industry. The Pere Marquette Railroad also published a similar competing pamphlet called "Fishing and Hunting In Michigan." As Bill noted, these publications promoted fishing along the railroad's line, giving information about where to fish, where to stay, where to rent a boat and best of all, who to get as a guide.



The 1912 edition of the GR&I booklet included this photograph of Arthur Winnie, the originator of several well known fly patterns including the Michigan Caddis and Winnie's Hopper, now known everywhere as Joe's Hopper. Another edition recommended Leonard Halladay's Mayfield Hotel, the birthplace of the famous Adams Fly.



Each issue also included a synopsis of Michigan fishing laws and pasted into the back of a c. 1900 issue was this neat foldout railroad map with an overlay of the Michigan Grayling showing their routes and principal connections.



The Pere Marquette publication of 1912 carried this reference to noted lure maker Charles Harris of Manistee, Michigan.



The 1911 edition of the Pere Marquette's "Fishing & Hunting In Michigan" carried this reference to Traverse City's Bert Winnie of Stump Dodger fame. The entire booklet can be read online by clicking here.



This 1910 edition of the GR&I's "Where To Go Fishing" can also be read in it's entirety by clicking here.

The GR&I also published a number of other colorful and appealing promotional booklets such as this "The Summer Resorts and Waters of Northern Michigan," pictured below.



-- Gary L. Miller

An Angling Miscellany with Gary L. Miller

A 60 lb. Fish Story
Out of Oshkosh, Wisconsin in 1933 comes this whopper of a tale.  It seems that self professed law abiding citizen, Ferdo Lehnigk, was found to have over 60 lbs. of  Sturgeon in his possession which at that time in Wisconsin was illegal.  When questioned by Conservation officers Ferdo related that the “fish leaped out of the water and fell onto the ice and broke it’s neck.”  He also added that as it is contrary to Wisconsin law to throw dead fish into the water, he was obligated to keep the Sturgeon.

The record is silent on the outcome of his case but we suspect that the judge would have been impressed with Ferdo’s alibi.



-- Gary Miller

An Angling Miscellany with Gary L. Miller

This is not a story about the missing link. It’s a story about not missing your lynx. Too cute? Ok, let’s get serious. Man spears lynx.

This is a true story that took place back in February of 1955.

A Traverse City man, Perry Ransom, and three of his buddies went up into the Algoma country north of the Canadian Soo to do some ice fishing on Ontario’s Trout Lake. The fishing was slow and they only had four trout between them so Perry decided to call it a day. He started off for camp ahead of the others carrying the ice spud.

Along the trail he passed near a rocky ledge and suddenly a Canadian Lynx sprang at him from the outcropping. Instinctively Perry raised the spud defensively and the sharp chisel edge caught the big cat right behind the ear and killed it instantly. The lynx was a female measuring 55 inches long but weighing only 18 pounds.

A lynx that long and weighing so little must surely have been starving to death and ole Perry must have looked like a banquette to her. Fortunately for him he was an ace with the spud.

Ransom was an accomplished outdoorsman, taking many deer and spearing lots of big pike over the years. His luck held and he lived a long and fruitful life passing away in 1972 at the age of 80. Proof once again that God does not deduct from one’s lifespan time spent fishing or in this case spuding lynx.

-- Gary L. Miller

An Angling Miscellany with Gary L. Miller: Michigan Fish Law Digests

Many collectors may not realize that there was a time when an occasional Michigan Fish Law Digest featured photos of Michigan fishing lure manufacturers on their covers.  Two such digests are currently being offered on eBay.



The 1941 Digest features a photo of Traverse City brothers Bert (standing) and Art Winnie fishing for bass on Lake Leelanau using Bert's patented Stump Dodger lure.  Art was also famous in his own right as a fly tier, being credited with the origination of several well known flies, among them the Michigan Caddis and Winnie's Hopper (now popularly known as Joe's Hopper).  This particular photo was previously published in the March, 1935 issue of Sports Afield in an article by Ben East entitled, "Opening Day On Leelanau".  Also featured in the article was another Traverse City man, Walter Hastings, the uncredited author of the photo and a staff photographer for the Michigan Department of Conservation.  All four of these men, East, Hastings and the Winnie brothers were good friends.  It's my guess that Hastings in his capacity as Conservation Department photographer needed a generic fishing photo for the cover of the digest and slipped this one in as a personal tribute to his friend, Bert Winnie, who had recently passed away in July of 1940.

Once started down this road, it must have been difficult for Hastings to resist putting more of his pals on subsequent covers as the following year's 1942 digest featured two more friends fishing in a canoe, also apparently on Lake Leelanau.  The two men appear to be Earl and Dan Perrin, owners of the resort, Perrin's Landing, which was the setting for the Ben East article in 1935.  Earl Perrin was a well known local fisherman who invented and eventually patented a cowbells type trolling lure for Brown Trout known as "Earl's Pearls".

Perhaps Hastings was found out and chastised as subsequent Michigan Fish Law Digests for many years thereafter were devoid of actual photographs using artwork instead.  We don't see another Michigan fishing lure manufacturer on a digest again until many years later when the 1979 cover featured a photo of Homer LeBlanc, manufacturer of the Swim Zag and the Swim Whiz among other lures.

-- Gary Miller

An Angling Miscellany with Gary L. Miller: Art Winnie's Countdown Trout

I've enjoyed seeing the nostalgic magazine covers posted by Bill Sonnett.  This one in particular brings to mind a great tradition that existed in Traverse City, Michigan in the first half of the 20th century.

Courtesy Bill Sonnett.

The Winnie brothers who ran a barbershop downtown on Front Street, like the fellow on the cover of the April, 1934 issue of Outdoor Life, also yearned for the return of trout fishing in the spring.  Opening day of the trout season was a big deal in Northern Michigan.  To help pass the time and build anticipation they got the idea to count down the days left until opening day.  At first they took an old trade sign from Bert's fish decoy manufacturing enterprise and hung it in the barbershop window with the number of days left until opening day taped below it.  Each day they decreased the number by one.  After awhile they apparently grew tired of comments about how the fish didn't look like a trout (it didn't as the sign was for decoys used to spear Lake Herring in nearby Grand Traverse Bay).  So, someone made a new sign that was a silhouette of a Brook Trout cut out of a 1" board and realistically painted in Brook Trout livery.  It was appropriately dubbed, "The Countdown Trout".  

Thereafter, for nearly half a century, beginning on Groundhog Day, the trout with the requisite number of days was placed in the Winnie barbershop window.  When Art Winnie, the last of the barber brothers, finally retired in the 1960s, the tradition was passed to another local Front Street business which dutifully hung the Countdown Trout in their window.  When finally that business was sold along with it's contents and inventory the Countdown Trout disappeared.  The good citizens of Traverse City have been looking for this piece of local fishing history ever since, but to no avail.  Has anyone seen the Countdown Trout?

-- Gary L. Miller