New All-Tackle World Record Brown Trout!

The Official
Publication of
the Fresh Water
Fishing Hall
of Fame
New All-Tackle World Record Brown Trout!
VOL. 33
NO. 4
Fall 2009
Inside:
Awards
Presented,
page 2
World Records
Update,
page 6
Ol’ Tackle Talk
by Chris Slusar,
page 8
Topwater
Fishing by Babe
Winkelman,
page 10
El Salto Bass by
Ron Schara,
page 11
See Page 6
Founded 1960
Incorporated Not For Profit 1970
P.O. Box 690, 10360 Hall of Fame Drive
Hayward, WI 54843
Phone 715/634-4440
http://www.Freshwater-Fishing.org
e-mail: [email protected]
Printed February 15, April 15,
August 15, November 15
Programs and Activities
Elmer Guerri (right) and Emmett Brown presents Dr. James Gammon (center) with
his Enshrinement plaque at the Hall this past August.
• Recognition of World Fresh Water
Sportfishing Records
• Record Book Published Annually
• Enshrinement for Achievement and
Accomplishment
• Library for Research and Pleasure
• Educational Museum of Sportfishing
Artifacts
Museum open April 15 through October 31
7 days a week, 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
(no admittance after 3:30 p.m.)
Administration Office open year ‘round
5 days a week, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (except
Christmas-New Year interim weeks)
Executive Board of Directors
Bill Beckwith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . President
Bill Gautsche . . . . . . . . . . . . Vice President
Ted Dzialo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Secretary
Tom Turngren . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Treasurer
Randy Albrecht . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Director
Scott Allen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Director
John Dettloff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Director
Dave Perkins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Director
Don Robinson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Director
Jim Scheer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Director
Harold Tiffany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Director
Wendy Williamson . . . . . . . . . . . . Director
Ben Wold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Director
Emmett Brown presents Forrest and Nina Wood with their Enshrinement plaques at
the Forrest L. Wood (FLW) Championship Cup in Pittsburgh, PA before a very
enthusiastic crowd this past July.
Professional and Volunteer Staff
Emmett Brown . . . . . . . Executive Director
Kathy Polich . . . . . . . . . Business Manager
Darlene Overman . . . . . . . . . . . . Secretary
Myrna Huber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Clerk
Emmett Brown . . . . . . . . . . . Splash Editor
Tim Gavigan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Webmaster
Tim Lesmeister. . . . . . . . Media Coordinator
Claudette Kersten . . . . . . . . . . . . Volunteer
The Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame is a
non-profit educational organization
dedicated to conservation and
sportfishing and to the maintenance of a
hall of fame where the history of fishing
and angling achievements are displayed.
A 501(c)(3) organization
© Copyright 2009 Fresh Water
Fishing Hall of Fame, Inc.
2
Stu Tinney (left) and Len Borgstrom display their respective Legendary Angler and
Enshrinement plaques awarded to them at the SEOPA annual conference this past
October in Punta Gorda, Florida. Hall Awards Committee member Gary Dollahon
made the presentations on behalf of the Hall. Thanks Gary!
The History of
Abu and Garcia
Hall Enshrinee Lennart Borgstrom has
written a very fascinating account on
how Swedish Abu merged with the
American Garcia Corporation. This
merger resulted in bringing many
innovations to the sportfishing
community throughout North America
and, indeed, the world!
Len was instrumental in making "a
small Swedish fishing tackle company a
world leader in quality fishing tackle
with products like the Ambassadeur
and Cardinal reels." Len's book is
entitled, "Abu and Garcia - What
Happened?"
Len has very
graciously
made his book
available to
Hall members
at a
discounted
price. It
normally sells
for $29, but
Len will sell it
to Hall
members for $20 plus $2 shipping and
handling (Virginia residents will also
have to pay sales tax). Your copy can be
purchased by contacting Len's daughter
(Carina) at the following location:
LENCO INTERNATIONAL, INC.
6034 Newport Cres.
Norfolk, VA 23505
Tel: (757) 897-1187
Email: [email protected]
From the
Director’s Desk
by Emmett Brown
Another year of our museum operations has
ended. We had a very good year “at the door.”
It appears all our hard work (and expenditure) upgrading our grounds
and attractions is really paying off. On behalf of our Executive Board,
staff and volunteers I would like to thank each and every one of you who
have supported us so generously in these endeavors.
Thank you very much!
Our autumn has been unusual, to say the least. I’ve talked to a lot of
people and no one can remember the leaves staying on the trees for so
long. Many trees still hadn’t dropped their leaves by November 1st. This
is, indeed, rare.
The only explanation I can come up with is the “nothing but sunshine”
September we had, tricked Mother Nature into thinking fall was not
imminent. Strictly anecdotal I know, but it’s the only one I have.
The sport show season is also fast approaching. My recommendation is
you attend at least one show this year.
The National Marine Manufacturing Association (NMMA) hosts a great
many of these shows. This is a truly great organization which puts on a
superior show. For a complete listing of their 2010 show schedule,
please go to their website at www.nmma.org. I’m sure you’ll find a show
near your home.
For those of us who live “up north,” it’s time to start thinking about
breaking out the ice gear (oh no!). For the rest of the fishing community,
there’s a lot of open water opportunity left in the year. Get to it!
Have a safe and pleasant Thanksgiving and Holiday Season.
Best regards,
Emmett A. Brown, Jr.
Executive Director
Courtesy of the Plano Molding Co.
3
Stories from our Members
A Fine Fish Story
1990. That trip was the first of what has
become an annual event.
by Geoffrey Torres
M
y grandfather was an avid
fisherman, as was my father.
I had the good fortune to
fish with my grandfather in the 1960's
as a kid. He would take my brother and
me fishing off of Sunny Island pier near
Miami, Florida on a regular basis. What
I remember most was his using a hand
line.
I was around 6 or 7 years old, but I can
remember him to this day. His love of
fishing was really something of a marvel
to me. We would wake up at 4:30 AM,
make coffee and go to the pier.
This story about my grandfather was
one I just heard recently from my
father. Perhaps I never paid much
attention to it as a kid, or perhaps I
never listened. Either way, I was so
affected by this story I want to share it
with the world. My grandfather was
born in Key West, Florida in 1888.
That's right, he was old even when I
was a kid. He lived until the ripe old age
of 91.
My grandfather was old school. He used
to fish by hand, period. In 1947, my
father and grandfather entered into the
Metropolitin Fishing Tournament. I
believe it was held in January or
Feburary of that year. The two of them
set out to fish the Tamiami Canal on the
75th Avenue bridge and Flagler. This
was their favorite fishing spot. My
father told me my grandfather would
use a 2x4 as a bobber. He would use
the hand line to fish. My dad used a
conventional rod and reel and used to
complain about my grandfather cutting
up his hands on the line. He even
offered to buy him gloves. On this day,
my grandfather caught a very large fish.
By all accounts it was quite a fighter.
He knew he had a big one, so he just
kept on tugging and slowly pulled in his
catch. To their amazement it was a huge
largemouth bass!
They took the catch to Pier 5 (where
Bayfront Park now rests) to have it
4
weighed. My father told my grandfather he would be disqualified if he
told the tournament officials he used a
hand line. He suggested that he tell
them he was using a rod and reel.
Upon weighing in the fish, it tipped the
scales at 8 3/4 lbs. It was the biggest
catch of the tournament. First prize
was in the thousands of dollars. However, my grandfather would not lie
when asked about the catch. He didn't
collect the prize money. However, to
me, he collected something so much
more. His integrity, as both a man and
a fisherman, was intact. My grandfather would not sell his pride or
honor. What a fine catch indeed.
Perhaps he didn't get the reward
money, but he taught my father
something far greater. My father went
on to served with distinction in the
United States Air Force in Vietnam and
retired as a Major. Honor and integrity
are virtues that are best taught by
example.
Bill
by Lee Radke
I
caught my first muskie in
October of 1986 on Yellow Lake
in Burnett County, Wisconsin. It
was my first attempt. It was a thrill I
will never forget. The fish measured 39
inches. My partner Bob is gone now.
I was infected with “muskieitis.” I
joined Chicagoland Muskie Hunters.
There, I met Don Dubin. He, in turn,
introduced me to Carl Rosenstein and
Al Weinblatt . We started going to Lake
of the Woods, Ontario, Canada in
I’m the historian in the group. I take
photos of our various activities. They
include our fish frys, boat shots,
sunsets and, of course, the muskies
that are caught. I put them in an album
and bring it on the trip every year. I now
have two albums and it’s fun looking
back at those young guys back in the
90's! I also keep records of fish caught.
A good week by any one person is four.
Lee holds number 100. A beautiful 47 inch muskie from
Lake of the Woods, Ontario, Canada caught this past
August.
I love keeping records of the muskies
I've caught. I’ve fished mostly in
northern Wisconsin. (Burnett County ,
Hayward, Minocqua) and the Fox Chain
in Illinois. I make copies of every
Muskies, Inc release form I have
submitted and some I haven’t. I number
each one. I encourage everyone to keep
these forms. They contain a wealth of
information. Lake of the Woods has
been my most productive area. In fact,
in the last five years, it has been the
only place I have muskie fished. This
year I had 95 forms in my note book. If
past performance was any indicator, it
would take me a couple of years to
make one hundred.
We fish out of Helliars Resort, at Nestor
Falls, the last week of August every
year. I was hoping to get my 100th, but
realistically, I had little confidence. The
first day was a short one and we didn’t
see a fish. Sunday was another blue
bird day - nothing all day. In the
evening, we were fishing a large reef
area. I was throwing a BS Willy Globe, a
noisy top water bait with big blades.
The pattern was black/gold lace. The
Stories from our Members
fish exploded on my bait. I used my
trolling motor to get us out of harms
way. Carl, my boat partner, got the net
ready and scooped her in. It was a
clean release. We measured her, got a
nice photo and let her go. Number 96
was 40 inches.
"Bill" is now permanently retired and will serve as a
constant reminder to Lee of a great day on the water!
The next day I got number 97, a 39
incher, in the weeds. Two hours later, I
got a 35 inch 'ski that was number 98.
Now I’m starting to think, “we’ve got
three days left, maybe there’s a
chance.” I have about 300 muskie lures
and I've only named one. It is a Hawg
Wobbler (black and white) which I have
called “Shamoo” - after the famous
killer whale. Now I’m looking at this BS
Willy. “I like this guy, I just caught three
fish in two days all on the same bait. I’ll
call him Bill” (short for Willy).
Tuesday (Day number 4) was unproductive. We saw some fish, but no hook ups.
Wednesday was another blue bird day.
At noon, Bill did it again! Number 99
was a 33 inch 'ski. Not great, but still a
muskie. Now I’m getting nervous. We
pounded the water until 3:00, nothing.
We came in for our annual fish fry. I sat
on the deck, cigar and martini in hand,
reflecting on the great trip I’ve had. I
would have been quite content to stay
in this evening. The martini dulled my
brain and my body felt like a truck ran
over it. My partner Carl was heading
down to the dock. Maybe this will be his
night? I dragged my weary body down
the hill. We got on the water at 6:00.
Another picture perfect day, not muskie
weather, but beautiful none the less. I
wanted Carl to throw Bill, but he
wouldn’t do it. It was getting dark, so I
wanted to try one last reef on the way
back. We have never seen a fish at this
spot, but it was an awful good looking
area. By this time, Bill had lost his
finish. He was buck naked on the bottom half and had only a few spots of
color on top. I had to tune him constantly. At 7:45 I threw him out over this
rock shelf. Half way home there was
another explosion. I set the hook,
motored out away from the rocks and
got her in deeper water. Carl netted her,
another clean release. Wow! What a
thrill. Number 100 was 47 inches. We
high fived. Carl was just as excited as I
was. If it weren’t for him, I would have
still been in the cabin.
What made this trip especially meaningful was not just my 100th fish, but the
fact that all five hits were solid. The fish
totally bought the bait. To them it was a
real meal. To me there is nothing like
the thrill of a top water hit. It is what
muskie fishing is all about. It’s also
about TLL: timing, location and luck.
Muskies have a unique behavior.
They’re territorial and they only eat
when they are hungry or curious. Their
follows are the food that feeds our
desire to keep going.
Back at the cabin we sat on the deck,
the sky above was a blanket of stars.
Mars was shining brightly in the south. I
was in a very celebratory mood. I was
surrounded by good friends, all with
fishing as our common bond. Carl, to
whom I will be eternally grateful, Don,
Al, Emmett, Frank, Jim, Mike and Mike
and John (who helped keep Bill going).
We killed the remaining scotch and
talked about the next hundred. I’m 72
years old. It took me twenty-three years
to reach this milestone. Another 100 is
not very likely. I’ll just enjoy the
moment. It was a day I will never forget.
Hanging on the wall of my studio
hallway, is a shadow box frame. It has a
photo of the muskie I caught in Yellow
Lake in 1990. Below it, is a compartment with an antique lure. I decided to
replace the photo with my 47 inch
muskie and to put “Bill” in the compartment below. It will serve as a permanent reminder of that very special day.
By the way, I’m expecting a couple of
“Bill’s” cousins to show up from Rollie
and Helen's very shortly.
Renew Your
Membership
Today!
Our life’s blood is through your support.
Without it, we would not be able to
continue and expand our many
programs promoting fresh water
sportfishing. We would not be able to
upgrade and maintain our wonderful
site here in Hayward, Wisconsin. Nor
would we be able to improve or expand
our international awards and records
programs. Simply stated, without you
we would perish!
Just in case you haven’t noticed, about
a year ago, we upgraded our
membership program and created 4
new membership platforms. Some of
the exciting new benefits are: a free
annual subscription to In-Fisherman or
Fly Fisherman magazines; a free one
year membership to the North
American Fishing Club; a chance to win
a day of fishing with Al Lindner and
tickets to an NMMA sport show. Of
course, we retained all of the other
benefits with each platform as well.
For further delineation of our
membership program, please go to our
website at www.freshwater-fishing.org
and check it out.
If your renewal notice is sitting on your
desk, please send it in today. You can
also renew on-line.
Thank you.
5
World Angling Records Granted
4th QUARTER - 2009 UPDATE
12 lb.
tippet
21”
Don
Larson
Chippewa River,
Wisconsin, USA
9/24/09
NOTE: World angling records are updated quarterly and the ultimate synthesis is
published annually in book form each April, distributed free to members, media,
manufacturers and world fisheries as a public service.
17 lb.
tippet
21”
Tom
Peterson
South Twin Lake,
Wisconsin, USA
6/5/09
20 lb.
tippet
22”
Jim
Miller
Chippewa River,
Wisconsin, USA
7/21/09
25 lb.
tippet
21”
Tom
Peterson
South Twin Lake,
Wisconsin, USA
6/5/09
BASS/
Largemouth
15 lb.
tippet
18”
Tom
Peterson
Keglia River,
Hawaii, USA
3/4/09
Date
6/3/09
BLUEGILL/
(Brim)(Bream)
All
Tackle
(only)
12”
Robert
Warne
Lake Ontario,
New York, USA
8/11/09
7/15/09
MUSKELLUNGE/ 10 lb.
Natural
tippet
42”
Tom
Peterson
North Twin Lake,
Wisconsin, USA
6/12/09
NOTICE TO REPRINT
©COPYRIGHT 2009 FRESH WATER FISHING HALL OF FAME. Excerpts or whole may be reprinted without
written permission as public information only, but not for commercial profit purpose. The source of this
information must be credited to the Fishing Hall of Fame in a type size readably noticeable or as the
contents of the companion text.
“Kept” World Records List
Fish
BULLHEAD/
Brown
Line
Class
14 lb.
DIVISION #1 – ROD/REEL
Lbs./
Ozs. Angler
Where Caught
4-6 Roger
Millvale Pond,
Aziz, Jr.
Massachusetts, USA
BURBOT
Unltd.
7-12
Ray
Johnson
Flaming Gorge Res.,
Utah, USA
CATFISH/White
16 lb.
6-11
Todd Matera Mashpee Wakepee Lake,
Massachusetts, USA
9/13/09
14 lb.
tippet
43”
Tom
Peterson
Smoky Lake,
Michigan, USA
5/28/09
GAR/
Alligator
15 lb.
74-8
Steve
Cross
Calcasieu Ship Canal,
Louisiana, USA
8/17/09
14 lb.
tippet
43”
William
Ludwick
Lake of the Woods,
Minnesota, USA
7/24/09
MUSKELLUNGE/ 40 lb.
Hybrid or Tiger
32-13 Kurt
Savageau
Trout Lake,
Wisconsin, USA
10/26/06
15 lb.
tippet
42”
Tom
Greenup
Namakagon River,
Wisconsin, USA
9/7/09
TROUT/
Brown
All
Tackle
41-7
Tom
Healy
Big Manistee River,
Michigan, USA
9/9/09
30 lb.
tippet
45”
Tom
Peterson
North Twin Lake,
Wisconsin, USA
6/5/09
30 lb.
41-7
Tom
Healy
Big Manistee River,
Michigan, USA
9/9/09
30 lb.
tippet
46”
Robert
Tomes
Ottawa River,
Quebec, Canada
6/20/09
14 lb.
14-8
G. Paul
Lee
Noatak River,
Alaska, USA
8/7/09
40 lb.
tippet
48”
Tom
Peterson
Smoky Lake,
Michigan, USA
6/3/09
40 lb.
tippet
49”
Mark
Meritt
Ottawa River,
Quebec, Canada
6/20/09
50 lb.
tippet
48”
Robert
Tomes
Ottawa River,
Quebec, Canada
6/21/09
Unltd.
tippet
43”
Tom
Peterson
Smoky Lake,
Michigan, USA
5/28/09
8 lb.
tippet
14”
Mindy
Chrzan
Lake Ontario,
New York, USA
8/12/09
SALMON/
6 lb.
Atlantic (Inland) tippet
21”
Carroll M.
Ware
McKenzie River,
Labrador, Canada
7/28/09
SALMON/
Atlantic,
(Sea-Run)
6 lb.
tippet
31”
Alan
Madden
Jacquet River,
New Brunswick, Canada
8/22/09
TROUT/
Brook
14 lb.
tippet
19”
Alan
Madden
Lit. S.W. Miramichi River,
New Brunswick, Canada
6/15/09
17 lb.
tippet
18”
Alan
Madden
Little S.W. Miramichi River, 6/15/09
New Brunswick, Canada
14 lb.
tippet
34”
John
Cleveland
Lake Athabasca,
Saskatchewan, Canada
9/14/09
17 lb.
tippet
35”
John
Cleveland
Lake Athabasca,
Saskatchewan, Canada
9/14/09
12 lb.
tippet
27”
Dan
McGuire
Rapid River,
Minnesota, USA
7/8/09
14 lb.
tippet
26”
Dan
McGuire
Rapid River,
Minnesota, USA
8/9/09
16 lb.
29”
Dan
McGuire
Rainy River,
Minnesota, USA
10/5/09
TROUT/
Dolly Varden
Fish
GOLDEYE
DIVISION #3 – POLE/LINE/ NO REEL
Line
Lbs./
Class
Ozs. Angler
Where Caught
Heaviest 1-1
Alexander Teton River,
(only)
Kastner
Montana, USA
Date
7/17/09
“C&R” World Records List
DIVISION #1 – ROD/REEL
Fish
BUFFALO/
Bigmouth
Line
Class
All
Tackle
(only)
Length Angler
39” Jack
Karlovich
Where Caught
Fox River,
Wisconsin, USA
Date
7/25/09
CATFISH/
Blue
10 lb.
52”
Gerald J.
Uhrine
Nickajack Lake,
Tennessee, USA
6/28/09
CATFISH/
Channel
(Albino)
All
Tackle
(only)
26”
Scott R.
Smith
Un-named Pond,
Michigan, USA
8/6/09
CRAPPIE/
Black
15 lb.
11”
Drew
Lake Miltona,
Solomonson Minnesota, USA
7/11/09
MUSKELLUNGE/ All
Hybrid or Tiger Tackle
53”
James
Rafac
Chippewa Flowage,
Wisconsin, USA
8/18/09
20 lb.
53”
James
Rafac
Chippewa Flowage,
Wisconsin, USA
8/18/09
PERCH/
White
All
Tackle
(only)
17”
Jason
Stewart
St. Louis River,
Minnesota, USA
8/22/09
TROUT/
Dolly Varden
14 lb.
33”
G. Paul
Lee
Noatak River,
Alaska, USA
8/7/09
TROUT/
17 lb.
Rainbow (Inland)
40”
Adam
Konrad
Lake Deifenbaker,
Saskatchewan, Canada
6/26/09
PERCH/
Yellow
TROUT/Lake
(Mackinaw)
WALLEYE
DIVISION #2 – FLY FISHING
Fish
BASS/Rock
BASS/
Smallmouth
6
Line
Class
All
Tackle
(only)
8 lb.
tippet
Length Angler
13”
Robert
Warne
22”
Matthew
Allport
Where Caught
Lake Ontario,
New York, USA
Date
8/1/09
Glenwood Lake,
New York, USA
8/15/09
Fish
CATFISH/Wels
DIVISION #1 – ROD/REEL FOREIGN CAUGHT
Line
Class Length Angler
Where Caught
All
85” Leonard J. Ebro River,
Tackle
Kouba
Aragon, Spain
(only)
Date
7/17/09
See Page 9 For Record Pictures
“Must Have” Books for Every Angler
O
ne of the most enjoyable
aspects of being a twelve year
member of the Hall’s Selection
Committee for the Hall’s Awards
Program is that I am afforded the
opportunity to say “Thank you” in a very
special way to individuals and
organizations that have helped me
personally to enjoy our great sport of
freshwater fishing. Being on the
selection committee allows me, in some
small way, to “give something back”
and to spread the word to fellow
anglers to help them further enjoy our
great sport.
As an avid student of fishing and fishes,
I have accumulated a vast library of
books which have greatly added to my
enjoyment of the sport. I love sharing
those books with my fellow anglers.
During the 2009 Selection Committee
meetings it was decided by the
committee to recognize one of my
favorite writers, a man who has
contributed so much to both
professionals and everyday anglers. It is
the committee’s hope that through
Enshrinement and through publicity of
the awards given, others will be made
aware of publications to further
enhance their own enjoyment of fishes
and fishing.
California fisheries scientist and author
Peter B. Moyle was chosen by the
Selection Committee for Enshrinement
for 2010 in recognition of his many
years of studying and writing about
ecology and conservation of freshwater
and estuarine fishes. His extensive
writings have been important among
fisheries and fishes professionals and
among nonprofessionals, including
aquarium hobbyists and anglers.
Two of my favorite books, always kept
on a shelf close-by and regularly read
and re-read, are Moyle’s, FISH: AN
ENTHUSIAST’S GUIDE and a book he coauthored with Joseph Cech, FISHES: AN
INTRODUCTION TO ICHTHYOLOGY. The
“Enthusiast’s Guide” is specifically
written for a non-professional audience,
but his “Ichthyology” book is also well
within the understanding of nonprofessionals.
by Elmer A. Guerri
Folks who enjoy fishing who take the
time to obtain and to read and study
these two books will, I am certain,
share my opinion that these two books
are exciting “must-have!” books. This
writer learns something new with each
re-reading of these books, and the
opportunity for confirmation of things
learned from Moyle’s writings occurs on
nearly every fishing trip. There is
something in Moyle’s books for every
angler, something describing every
angler’s favorite species and “home
waters”. The illustrations are vivid and
accurate, and the descriptions of the
habits and behaviors of freshwater
fishes are enlightening and instructive,
the results of years of astute
observation and learning by a
competent scientist and writer.
If you are a beginning angler or one
accomplished with “the angle” you will
have trouble deciding which of these
books to read first. If you are like me,
each of these books will be filled with
underlines, your own handwritten
comments in the margins, and lots and
lots of !!! that highlight important ideas
and thoughts. I have two copies of each
of Moyle’s books, one of each that are
personal well-worn copies filled with my
notes and one of each that are
unmarked copies to be shared with
others—until they can get copies of their
own…..and they always do!
Recipe
Book Review
If you don’t just completely come
“unglued” over these two books, then
fishing isn’t your “cup of tea”. Perhaps
you should look into Bingo or maybe
embroidery—but I don’t think that will
be the case. Get on-line and order these
books—you, also, may want to get two
copies of each.
You will love these books!
Enjoy!
FISH: AN ENTHUSIAST’S
GUIDE, by Peter B.
Moyle. Illustrations by
Chris Mari van Dyck.
University of California
Press. Copyright 1993
by The Regents of the University
of California. ISBN: 0-520-20165-5
(paperback) ISBN: 0-520-07977-9
(cloth).
FISHES: AN
INTRODUCTION TO
ICHTHYOLOGY third
edition, by Peter B.
Moyle and Joseph J.
Cech, Jr. Department of
Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology
University of California, Davis. Prentice
Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.
Copyright 1996, 1998, 1982 by
Prentice-Hall, Inc. ISBN: 0-13-372996-6.
Courtesy of Babe Winkelman
Bass Hash
Hey, fish doesn’t always have to be for
dinner. Try this one for your next hearty
breakfast with a couple eggs and some
buttered wheat toast. It’s a real treat!
2 pounds of bass, cooked & flaked
1 pound hash browns (thawed)
1/2 cup green pepper (chopped)
1/2 onion (chopped)
1 pound bacon (cooked and crumbled)
reserve bacon grease
Garlic powder
Babe Winkelman’s Northwoods Grill
Seasoning
Salt & pepper to taste
Fry bacon until crispy and crumble it. In
the bacon grease, sauté onions and green
peppers until the onion is transparent,
then remove from pan. In same pan, fry
your hash browns until they’re slightly
brown. Season the hash browns, then
add the onions, peppers and fish. Cook
until the dish reaches your desired
crispiness.
Kris Winkelman's "Ultimate Wild Game
and Fish Cookbook" is available for
$19.95 plus $9.00 shipping & handling. To
order, log onto www.winkelman.com or
call 1-800-333-0471
7
Chris Slusar
The South Bend Bait Company
T
he South Bend Bait Company
(“South Bend”) was one of the
giants that helped shape the
fishing tackle industry we know today.
Although this short introduction will
focus on lures, the company also
manufactured a wide variety of quality
rods, reels and related accessories.
Originating in South Bend, Indiana, the
company has roots dating as far back
as the 1890’s, but was not formally
organized until 1909 and did not find
itself on solid footing until around 1915.
It was at this time that Ivar Hennings
took over as co-owner, president and
general manager.
Among many other attributes, Hennings
was known for his leadership and
organization. He quickly saw promise in
a burgeoning fishing tackle industry and
repositioned the fragile business to
grow revenues from just over $7,000 in
1910 to nearly $1,000,000 by 1926.
Mr. Hennings is also credited with
originating the “Oreno” name, a brand
that attached to many of the South
Bend products and drove both
recognition and growth. Introduced in
1916, the iconic Bass-Oreno was
thought to be the first lure to employ
the new name.
The late teens also saw the introduction
of another South Bend staple, the SurfOreno. A favorite northwoods lure for
decades, the Surf-Oreno was (and still
is!) the weapon of choice for many
musky anglers.
By the early 1930’s, the company had
grown to over 400 employees and
expanded into new and larger
facilities…..quite a feat in the
challenging economic climate. Arguably,
the company enjoyed its greatest
prosperity in the 10 or so years
8
preceding World War II. It was during
this time that the company’s colorful
and detailed product catalogs
blossomed, many of which are
collectible today.
The post-war era marked a transition to
less complicated lure designs and
related manufacturing processes. Glass
and tack eyes were replaced with
pressed eyes and hook hardware was
generally one piece, known as surface
hardware.
Like most manufacturing concerns,
South Bend directed its resources
toward the war effort during most of
the early to mid 1940’s, resuming
production of fishing tackle in 1947.
Scarcity of raw materials held off full
production until the early 1950’s.
Mr. Hennings, the driving force behind
South Bend for decades, passed away in
1950 giving way to several subsequent
owners and managers. In 1955, the
company changed its name to the
South Bend Tackle Company, a better
Can you ID?
No queries from the mailbag this
newsletter, instead, I’m offering a
picture of one of my favorite
miscellaneous pieces.
Description:
The lure pictured is a Bing’s
Nemahbin Weedless Minnow, made
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The piece
dates to around 1905 and is valued
at $300-$500. The Nemahbin was
offered in at least five colors,
including a “metalized” version,
which was dipped in either a nickel
or copper alloy. A correct cardboard
box, in very good condition, would
easily triple the value of the lure
alone!
Back to mailbag in the next issue,
please do forward your questions or
requests for identification to
[email protected]. Alternatively, send
your queries to Chris Slusar in care
of the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of
Fame.
Until next time, enjoy an old lure!
#1- Manufacturer: South Bend Bait Company, Model: #963Surf-Oreno, Color: Yellow with Spots. This package includes
a tough to find introductory box. The lure is a thin body
type, which places manufacture between 1916 and 1919. In
the condition shown, the combination is valued at $125$175.
#2- Manufacturer: South Bend Bait Company, Model: #973Bass-Oreno, Color: Pagin Scale. This early combination
includes a Red Sky/Pine Tree Box, a special design
exclusive to the Bass-Oreno. The lure has a raised scale
pattern and is named after its inventor, John B. Pagin. The
box and lure date to between 1928 and 1930 and are
valued at $75-$100.
The South Bend Bait Company
reflection of its diverse product line.
While the company continued to thrive
into the 1960’s, it met with challenges
similar to its early peers. The advent
and expansion of plastics, fierce
competition and a changing
marketplace combined to narrow
profitability and reduce South Bend’s
product line.
The South Bend brand continues today
and although many of the early “Oreno”
products are lost to time, a good many
collections keep alive the history.
#3- Manufacturer: South Bend Bait Company. These
colorful catalogs date from 1933 to 1935 (left to right) and
are valued at $25-$40.
Those interested in learning more about
the South Bend Bait Company, including
details about its wide selection of
offerings, can contact me directly.
Don Larson
Smallmouth
Bass, 21”,
Chippewa River,
WI, 9/24/09.
Leonard J. Kouba Wels Catfish, 85”, Ebro
River, Spain, 7/17/09/.
John Cleveland Lake Trout, 34”, Lake
Athabasca, Saskatchewan, 9/14/09.
Carroll M. Ware
Sea-Run Atlantic
Salmon, 21”,
McKenzie River,
Labrador,
7/28/09.
Scott R. Smith Albino Channel Catfish,
26”, Un-Named Pond, MI, 8/6/09.
Gerald J. Uhrine Blue Catfish, 52”,
Nickajack Lake, TN, 6/28/09.
Tom Peterson Natural Muskellunge, 45”,
No. Twin Lake, WI, 6/5/09.
Mark Meritt Natural
Muskellunge, 49”, Ottawa
River, Quebec, 6/20/09.
Robert Warne Bluegill,
12”, Lake Ontario, NY,
8/11/09.
Jim Miller
Smallmouth
Bass, 22”,
Chippewa River,
WI, 7/21/09.
Steve Cross
Alligator Gar,
74-8, Calcasieu
Ship Canal, LA,
8/17/09.
G. Paul Lee Dolly Varden
Trout, 14-8, Noatak River,
AK, 8/7/09.
9
Raise your heart rate with topwaters
I love the feeling of a deep-water
bite as much as the next guy. That
solid THWUMP when a big bass
inhales a Carolina rig. But it just
doesn’t compare to the adrenaline
charge you get when a big
largemouth blows up on a weedless
topwater bait in thick cover.
initial “plop” often gets the attention of
a nearby bass and he comes to
investigate. He’ll often hang just below
the unmoving lure, waiting. After the 510 second wait, I’ll then give it a subtle
twitch. I can’t tell you how many bass
I’ve hooked following that first twitch.
On the way back to the boat, make sure
to pause that bait in and around any
pocket or transition point that’s
between you and the lure. Those are all
ambush points as I mentioned.
O
f all freshwater predator fish,
none are better-designed for
surface feeding. The way a
bass’ eyes are set is ideal for upward
vision. The shape and size of a bass’
mouth is perfect for topwater strikes.
And when they un-hinge that jaw, they
impart the powerful suction action
needed to slurp even large prey from
the top.
This leads me to a helpful tip.
Obviously, some surface strikes are so
violent they can practically be seen
from outer space. But because of a
largemouth’s suction, sometimes the
strikes are incredibly subtle. A bass will
often creep up to a surface meal and
literally suck it in like a vacuum. From
the fisherman’s perspective, the bait
simply disappears like a bobber being
pulled under. For that reason, fishing
topwater baits requires constant vigil
over your lure. Be ready at all times!
The Baits
For the purposes of this column, we’re
talking about slop fishing – heavy
emergent and submergent weeds, often
times with wood mixed in. This scenario
absolutely requires a weedless bait. For
clean, open-water topwater fishing, I
much prefer a surface bait with a
couple of treble hooks.
There’s a wide variety of weedless
surface baits available. I personally
recommend a wide-profile, soft-bodied
creature with dual hooks that come up
on the back of the lure rather than
hanging down. Why these three
characteristics? First, the wide profile
improves the visibility of the bait,
displaces a lot of water when twitched
and is more apt to trigger strikes from
bigger fish. The soft body (and often
times hollow) is important because it
10
By Legendary Angler Babe Winkelman
collapses when bit and exposes the
hook points better. Finally, upward
hooks will ride above most of the cover
and also are better-positioned for solid
hook-ups in the upper mouth.
“Frogs” and “Rats” are two of the most
popular patterns, and I can’t say that
one is superior to the other. I think it’s
that profile that gets them, and not the
appendages hanging off the back. Color
can be critical however. Get yourself a
black, white, green and chartreuse and
you should be pretty well covered.
The Edges
When you get into the slop, you’ll find a
variety of edges within the cover. The
edges of open pockets, points and
inside turns, and the transition points
where one type of vegetation meets
another are all key edge areas that
attract bass. They are ambush points
from the fish’s perspective. Key in on
them and you’ll get more topwater
bites.
The Presentation
There’s really no wrong way to fish
topwater baits. Some guys cast out and
work them in fast. Others are more
methodical. I highly endorse a slower
presentation that mimics the way a live
frog would swim. One thing I ALWAYS
do is this: I pick my landing target and
cast the bait right on it. Then I just let it
sit there for at least 5-10 seconds. That
The Hookset
The biggest mistake anglers make with
topwater baits is setting the hook too
early. We’re inclined to set the hook the
instant we see the bite. When we do, it
often results in a miss. Instead, give the
bass a two-count before you lean back
on him. It gives the fish a chance to
really inhale that bait and helps ensure
good hook penetration.
The Fight
Be the aggressor when fighting fish in
heavy cover. Get the bass up high as
quickly as you can and keep him there.
If he buries in the jungle, it becomes
much more difficult to keep him hooked
and get him in. Use heavy line. At a
minimum, 20 pound monofilament. Go
with 30 or more if it’s really thick cover.
Many anglers like using braided line of
50-pound test or higher, which is fine.
But I like the way mono resists sinking
so I never have to worry about my line
sagging down into the cover. It makes
for better lure action too. Plus, I believe
buoyant mono helps me get and keep
that fish up high during the fight.
The Reward
The payback to spending time in the
slop for largemouth bass is the
exhilaration. It’s simply a ton of fun.
Plus, those thick-cover haunts are key
locations for big fish. If you haven’t
done any slop fishing yet, spool up
some heavy line on a rod with a lot of
backbone and get out there. The cover
is easy to find, easy to fish and will
keep you coming back for more.
Good Fishing!
El Salto Bass
By Legendary Communicator Ron Schara
Of all the rare commodities in the
world, angling exaggerations are
not among them.
T
hose of us who fish, in fact, expect a
little piscatorial puffery in the stories
we hear, including the ones we tell.
That was on my mind a few weeks ago when
on the Internet an item on ESPN.com posed an
interesting question: Is Mexico's El Salto the
hottest largemouth bass lake in the world?
Hmmmm.
Seldom is such a question asked about any
body of water. Does it follow there might be a
semblance of truth to such a bold fishing
inquiry?
On a cloudless dawn in late February, I set out
to learn more about El Salto.
My guide, Fred Ward, was starting his third
month of bass casting but seemed eager to
head down the lake. Ward, a veteran of bass
fishing and tournaments, is also a bassin'
man's entrepreneur. Over the years, Ward has
invented a number of lures and helped develop
the famed Helicopter Lure television campaign
a few years back.
We moved on and
began casting
again.
Not much
happened. Ward
caught a couple of
2-pounders; I
landed a bass even
smaller.
A hot what? I wondered.
One more cast and . . . my gosh. The swirl
was big enough to mount on the wall. She
had a belly like a football and she had my
spinnerbait inhaled in her huge jaws and she
was making an equally huge leap into the
warming Mexican air. And just as fast, she
was off.
"Well, you just lost your first 8- or 10pounder," Ward quipped.
A few casts later, Ward landed his, a solid 8
pounder, maybe more.
Ward's eternal search for good bass action two
years ago led him to El Salto. "I caught so
many bass between 10 and 14 pounds I
couldn't believe it," he recalled.
The El Salto bass were actually imported 15
years ago from Florida waters where a strain
of largemouth bass roam that are famed for
growing big. As a result, El Salto is now in its
prime as a fishing reservoir, having been built
15 years ago. While Ward and other camp
operators are concerned about the
commercial netting of tilapias, there is at the
moment no shortage of largemouth.
With only two bass fishing camps on the lake,
Ward last year started his own El Salto Pro
Bass Adventures, which caters to visiting
anglers from December to June.
"You should have 30- to 50-bass days and
most people will tangle with a 10-pounder,
although not everybody will land 'em," Ward
said, looking intently at me.
Ward's bass boat roared to life and away we
rushed to see if the world's hottest bass lake
was still that way. Past flooded cactus tops
and tree brush we zipped, past islands and
bays we flew like a shot. Ward had a hot spot
in mind.
For the next two days, casting spinnerbaits,
topwater lures and pitching plastic worms,
the bass of El Salto seemed to be everywhere. I caught 1- to 3-pounders; Fred was
nailing those plus a few 7s, 8s and one 10pounder.
"We'll start with 3/8- or 1/2-ounce
spinnerbaits," he announced.
"I hope you catch a big one," Ward said,
sincerely.
I made my first cast into the world's hot spot.
Nothing. A second cast. Nothing.
Well, I'd had my chances. Two huge bass in
that 8- to 10-pound range had wrapped
around trees below the surface while a third
10-pound plus pig had smacked my No. 13
floating Rapala and somehow missed three
sets of treble hooks. Go figure. El Salto's
bass were hot; it was me who was cold.
Over yonder a pair of Mexican fisherman were
pulling up their fishing nets to gather the day's
catch of tilapia, a commercial food fish
abundant in various Mexico freshwater lakes.
One of the nets accidentally held a monster
size bass. Ward rushed over to see if the fish
could be resuscitated and released.
The bass weighed 14.4 pounds!
The second evening a bassin' fella from
Louisiana arrived at the dock sporting a smile
longer than the Mexican border.
"I had the greatest day of bass fishing in my
life," he said, blurting numbers. "Lots of 8s,
9s, two 10s, an 11-pounder and my biggest
was 13-something."
At that moment, my largest El Salto braggin'
fish didn't weigh much more than a plate of
nachos.
Last day; high noon. I'm crushed. Two hours
earlier, a for-sure 10- to 12-pounder had
sucked in a Frenzy popper, leaped high to
show herself and then plunged into a flooded
treetop, wrapped my 30-pound test line
around an unbreakable branch and spit the
hooks. Fred wasn't happy. With me.
"Ron, you've got to horse those big fish - you
can't play 'em. You got to get 'em in or they'll
do a job on you."
My sad eyes nodded in agreement.
Strange thing about Mexican largemouth. They
love warmth.
"Noon with a high sun sometimes can be the
best fishing," Ward said, adding, "Even for
topwater."
While we slipped through flooded timber and
other bassy haunts, I glanced ahead of the
boat in time to see a swirl of bait fish, followed
by a larger swish of water made by something
on the prowl.
Quickly, I made a long cast with a pig/jig
combo (weedless, skirted jig adorned with a
frog-shaped chunk of actual porkrind).
The pig/jig sunk for a moment and then
moved sideways. I reared back on a stout, 7foot rod.
Up, she came. She rolled on the surface,
baring her huge belly and exploded toward an
adjoining tree branch. I couldn't stop her and,
instantly, she was wrapped. I wanted to
swallow my heart. Then, my luck changed.
Suddenly the bass was free of the tree. She
did it on her own. I tightened the line. Now she
was in open water. Now she was mine. Fred
lifted her into the boat and shouted with joy.
Fred knew something I didn't. He'd seen more
big bass.
"She's over 10!" he exclaimed, reaching for a
fish scale.
With the bright sun overhead, we stared at the
scale's digital readout. It said, 13.1.
El Salto, the world's hottest bass lake?
Muy caliente, mi amigos.
11
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