Splash 8.10 - Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum

The Official
Publication of
the Fresh Water
Fishing Hall
of Fame
VOL. 34
NO. 3
Summer 2010
Inside:
From the
Director's Desk,
page 2
1960 Harper
Walleye
Reinstated as
World Record by
John Dettloff,
page 3
Living on the
Edge by Tom
Neustrom, page 4
10 Steps to
Better Jigging by
Ted Takasaki,
page 6
Contour
Crankbaiting for
Walleyes by
Babe Winkelman,
page 8
Ol' Tackle Talk by
Chris Slusar,
page 9
On the Way to the
Next Fishin' Hole
From the
Director’s Desk
by Emmett Brown
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
• 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
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 2010 Fresh Water
Fishing Hall of Fame, Inc.
2
Things are booming at the Hall this summer.
So far, our museum admissions are keeping
pace with last year - that's a very good thing.
Due to the sudden abundance of rain this summer, our gardens and
lawns are in full bloom and thriving quite nicely. Although they look nice
every year, they are especially so this year. Visit us soon and see for
yourself!
Our Awards Committee will be holding its annual selection meeting for
2011 about the time you are reading this. It appears they will have a very
talented and deserving group of men and women to review. The
competition is going to be challenging. As the saying goes, "Many are
called, but few are chosen." Good luck to all.
Our inaugural spring Crappie Banquet and Crappie Contest events were
very successful first efforts. I am very grateful to all those who helped
out. Thank you. Plans are already being made for greater events in 2011.
Put a circle on your calendar around the first weekend in June - details
to follow.
Our world records program continues to grow and prosper. Every time it
appears a certain record has plateaued, an application comes in beating
the benchmark. Of course I'm exagerating, but I am continually amazed
at how many large fish are still being caught and how popular our
program is.
Your turn!
Until the fall.
Regards,
Emmett A. Brown, Jr.
Executive Director
Cover Photo - Master woodsman and
northwoods guide Richard Ahern leads
another group to his "secret" spot.
Line Testing Reminder
As many of you already know, we are always happy to pre-test lines for those of you
going on an extended trip and wish to know where a particular line will break.
However, please keep in mind that the actual line used must still be submitted with
each record application. We will not accept the line pre-test documentation only. The
reasons for this are varied. Line weakens with age. Also, line which has been
subjected to an abrasive environment tends to weaken as well.
If you wish that we complete a pre-test for you, we must receive your request at least
two (2) months before it is needed. Also, please do not send more than six (6)
different lines per request. As always, we will pre-test line(s) at no charge for our
members and $20 for non-members. Line submission is only required in Divisions 1
and 2.
Good luck and thank you for your compliance!
The Facts Supporting the Harper Walleye Reinstatement
This past May, after careful review of
newly discovered evidence supporting the
validity of the 25 pound 1960 walleye
catch made by Mabry Harper out of Old
Hickory Lake in Tennessee, the Fresh
Water Fishing Hall of Fame has voted to
officially reinstate the Harper walleye as
the all tackle world record walleye.
With more than 3000 world record entries
for 125 species of fresh water fish in our
record book, we chose to conduct our
own internal review of our records during
the past several years in order to make
sure our listings are as fair and accurate
as possible. During this time, several
records have been either re-categorized or
removed, based upon their true ranking in
their respective divisions.
When it came to the walleye record, we
considered this issue important to revisit
because in 1996, the Hall had removed
the long standing Harper walleye from its
record listing. This decision was based
upon an Outdoor Life article which
claimed that Harper’s walleye couldn’t
have measured 41 inches in length, as
reported on Harper’s original entry form
to Field & Stream, the official record
keeping body at the time.
Doubts About the Harper Fish
The genesis of the doubts about the size
of Harper’s walleye stemmed from the
observation that the Outdoor Life author
didn’t believe the fish appeared as long as
claimed after examining the photo of Mr.
Harper holding his walleye. While the
image of the walleye in the photo may not
at first appear to be 41 inches long to
some individuals, this is simply just
another case of today’s overstated
photographic expectations not matching
yesterday’s photographic reality. So
often these days, because of the more
frequent use of wide angle lenses and the
By John Dettloff
usual closer proximity of the cameraman
to the angler, today’s photographic
methods commonly make fish appear
larger than they really are.
The Harper Hand Spread Assessment
Following this initial observation, the
Outdoor Life author then set out to
calculate the walleye’s length by using an
assumed hand spread of the angler
(Harper) and compared it to the length of
his fish. There are two major problems
with attempting to measure a long
unknown object off a much shorter
known distance in a photograph.
First, any minor error in the “known”
distance will be multiplied by how many
times longer the unknown object is. For
example in the case of the Harper
walleye, because its total length is
approximately nine times larger than
Harper’s hand spread, whatever error
continued on page 5
Hall Awards Are Presented
Ted Takasaki (center, left) and Larry Bollig (center, right) are inducted respectively as
a Legendary Angler and Legendary Communicator on March 27, 2010 at the
Northwest Sport Show in Minneapolis, Minnesota. On hand to congratulate and
support Ted and Larry were several past Hall honorees. They are (left to right): Tom
Neustrom; Gary Roach; James Lindner; Bob Mehsikomer; Ron Schara; Al Lindner;
Dick Grzywinski and Randy Amenrud.
Dave Ritchey (left)
inducts Mark
Rinckey as a
Legendary Guide on
March 20, 2010 at
the Traverse City
(Michigan) Outdoor
Expo. Thanks Dave!
Wisconsin guide Tommy Zinda was
postumously recognized by the Hall for
his many years of guiding and teaching
people to fish this past May at the 6th
Annual Tadpole Classic on Lake
Minocqua, Wisconsin. Tommy lost his
bout with cancer this past April. Tommy
will be sadly missed! On hand to accept
Tommy's award were his wife Pat (left),
son Brad (center). On behalf of the Hall,
Dave Lang presented the award. Thank
you Dave.
Richard Hart (right) is inducted by Hall
Executive Director Emmett Brown on
May 24, 2010, in our Special
Recognition category for his many years
of tireless support of and fund raising
for fresh water sportfishing. Also on
hand for Dick's ceremony were Steve
Pennaz of the North American
Fisherman Group and Douglas Grann of
Wildlife Forever. Thank you Steve for
making the arrangements.
3
Living on the Edge
By Legendary Angler Tom Neustrom
The word positioning is a rather
awkward way to begin a fishing
article, but there is no better word
to describe the cross meaning of
the word edge.
active walleyes. My second choice is
most often a shallow or deeper diving
crankbait like a Rapala Husky Jerk, a #7
or #8 Shad Rap, X-Rap Shallow, or an XRap Shad. Crankbaits are also great
search baits and can trigger strikes in
any given situation. Keeping your boat
away from the edge that you want to
fish is critical and in many situations
can make the difference in being
successful. Deeper edges where I may
be backtrolling chasing walleyes are
less susceptible to cause fish to be
spooked because of the depth.
F
or years, anglers in the know,
have been fishing edges of every
feasible type of structure
imaginable and have found places fish
inhabit that have amazed even the nonbelievers. Make no mistake, that fishing
the edge of structure, no matter how
big or small, will enhance your success
and give you a better understanding of
being consistent wherever you fish, and
for about every species.
For decades, when the father of
structure fishing, Buck Perry, tried to
drill it into our heads that fishing
structure was relatively an easy
equation, no one could understand why
certain species of fish inhabited
different types of specific locations.
Buck was way ahead of his time and to
this day he passed on to many of us the
theories that we live by today.
The Lindners understood the mechanics
of edges better than anyone and were
mopping up on fish where ever their
fishing caravan took them. Fishing
Facts Magazine and In-Fisherman were
the angling bibles of the industry for
ions and they filled our heads full of
ideas and theories that have created
the foundation of why we put so much
emphasis on locating and fishing edges
of structure.
As a professional guide and one of
creations biggest fish heads, I have
always been intrigued by places that
fish will position themselves. I realize
that time of the year and food sources
can throw a monkey wrench into the
entire process, but edges of structure
have helped me to be consistent.
Walleyes, bass, northern pike, muskies
and panfish all relate to structural
edges at one time or another, but
knowing when and where to fish these
primo locals, and for what species, will
always be a challenge.
4
I love to catch any fish, but walleyes
have always been my trademark and
have haunted me at times with their
attitudes. Years ago, there were
thoughts of walleyes locating
themselves in relatively deeper water
and only coming out at night to feed.
Those nonsense theories have come
and gone and we know that walleyes
are very adaptable to countless
locations at many different times of
the day. Excellent examples of
structural elements where edges
significantly play an important role are
sunken islands, weed beds, points,
inside turns, shoreline breaks, rock
piles, standing timber and even open
water areas that can define locations
of walleyes. Forage is a significant
factor that can at times dictate
specific edges that we fish.
Early and late in the season, jig fishing
is my bread and butter when it comes
to fishing edges of most structural
elements that I chase walleyes. It can
be a search weapon when setting up
on the edge of weed beds, a long
protruding point, back trolling a break
line, or fishing a specific spot on a
spot. A Northland Fireball or Gumball
Jig, tipped with a minnow, half a
crawler, or a plastic Slurpie Tail, can be
a tough hombre when it comes to
quickly checking out specific edges for
I use my electronics like a surgeon
dissecting every nook and cranny of
structure that I encounter. With my
Humminbird 997 SI , I can pick apart
the locations of different species of fish
on edges, mark their locations, and
then come back and fish them. Except
for deep structure, many times I will
cast to the edge believing that the
species of fish I intend to catch are
located in heavy vegetation or rocks
that are at times impossible to read fish
accurately. Edges have been ambush
points for fish from their existence and
provide just what is needed for the fish
and angler alike to make contact.
Don’t ever get caught up in the
statement, “They just weren’t biting
today,” for there is nothing further from
the truth. One of my good friends and
mentor, Al Lindner, told me a long time
ago, “There are always fish biting
somewhere, we just have to find them.”
Have you ever noticed at a tournament
or working with a professional guide
there are always exceptions to the rule
on a slow or adverse fishing day, and
someone finds the fish that are biting?
The good ones can react to change and
have backup plans to inject into their
game plan that make them successful.
Fishing the edges of structure, no
matter their location or makeup, will
put fish in your boat. Proper
presentation and the right bait is
important, but “living on the edge” will
create a better understanding and
increase your odds of angling success.
Harper Walleye Reinstatement
there is in the assumed hand spread
distance will be multiplied by that same
factor of nine. Therefore, if Harper’s
assumed hand spread was just a quarter
of an inch off, then the calculated length
of the walleye would be two and a quarter
inches off.
Secondly, the premise of using a short
known distance in a photograph to
calculate a much longer unknown
distance in the same photo will commonly
yield inaccurate results… in some cases,
overestimating, and at other times,
underestimating the final result
depending on the proximity of the “known
distance” to the true horizon line or
camera level of the photographer. This is
a fact of photographic perspective that
many people seem to overlook when
attempting to assess the size of a large
fish in a photograph.
I recall an article that I once read which
discussed that one could measure the
length of a fish in a photograph by using
any known object in the same
photograph, such as a stick of gum, as a
reference measurement to yield a length
for the fish. Actually, this is not a reliable
way of ascertaining an accurate
measurement…. especially if the fish is
many times longer than the reference
continued from page 3
item. For example: if you photographed
two 3 inch long sticks of gum, with one
being positioned at camera level (the true
horizon) and the other being positioned
well below the horizon line, the lower
stick of gum would measure smaller than
the stick of gum that is located at the
horizon. Moreover, the wider the angle
lens that is used, the greater the
difference will be between the apparent
length of the two sticks of gum… even
though we know they are the same
length.
When it came to the Outdoor Life author’s
assumption of how big he thought
Harper’s hand spread was, he put it
between 3½ and 4 inches (at most),
basically stating that a 4½ inch hand
spread would have been virtually
impossible for Harper to have possessed.
Here in lies the most dangerous part of
the author’s theory…using assumptions
and not facts to back his theory that
Harper’s fish didn’t measure up. The fact
is: hand width can have a considerable
variance from one person to another and
often without regard for a person’s
physical size. There are indeed people of
average height (like Harper) who have
exceptionally wide hands that measure in
the 4½ inch range (when held in the same
position that Harper had his hands).
Laborers and tradesmen who work with
their hands often have thick, muscular
hands as a result of their lifelong
vocations. And Harper, who was a
plumber by trade, was very likely one
such person. Could Harper’s hand spread
have measured in the 4½ range in the
photograph? Yes, it certainly could have.
The theory which concluded that Harper’s
walleye wasn’t long enough turns out to
be unsupported by any facts and, in retrospect, Harper’s walleye should have never
been removed from the record book.
Some people bought into this theory,
including the people who had reviewed
the matter at the Hall. Although most of
the current people in place at the Hall
today were not involved in the decision to
remove the Harper walleye 14 years ago,
we take responsibility for this action and
feel it is important to correct this error
and make sure history will remember the
Harper’s world record walleye as a fair
and honest angling accomplishment.
Newly Discovered Documentation
Supporting the Harper Walleye
Among the additional evidence that has
been discovered supporting Harper’s 25
pound world record walleye are two
quality photographs of Harper’s wife
holding his fish and another photograph
of the walleye’s head (after it had been
cleaned) with a ruler on top of it. These
three photos greatly help support the
reported size of Mabry Harper’s world
record walleye at 25 pounds and 41
inches in length. Two of the photos of
Mrs. Harper holding her husband’s
walleye illustrate a most impressive and
well built walleye. Both taken in front of a
1959 Plymouth Custom Suburban
continued on page 10
Photos from our Members
Longtime Hall volunteer Ray
Tarte and his wife Rose are
shown with 5 walleyes ranging
from nine to twelve pounds in
May of 1952 from Round Lake,
near Hayward, Wisconsin. Ray
also said the fishing was so
good that he could (and did)
catch fish like this all day long.
Thank you Ray for sharing this
photo from years past with us.
Legendary Guide
Taylor Streit holds a
rainbow trout that
has some serious
weight issues. Taylor
is accompanied by
his father Nick (left).
Taylor owns and
operates the Taos
(New Mexico) Guide
and Tackle Shop.
5
10 Steps to Better Jigging
By Legendary Angler Ted Takasaki and Scott Richardson
also helps when bites are so light that
nothing at all is telegraphed up your
line through your rod. A slight
movement or "heavy" feel may be all
the notice you get. Set the hook at the
slightest change.
Try using these 10 steps to master
your jigging technique. This can
mean the difference between
catching fish or not.
S
tep 1: Stay on the bottom
Lake, river or reservoir, walleyes
relating to structure and current
spend most of their time on or near the
bottom. Choose the right-sized jig to
keep your bait down amongst them.
Walleyes eat by inhaling the water
around their target. A light jig may
make it easier to engulf. But, be
prepared to adapt. Jigs too light may
keep you out of the strike zone entirely.
Increase the weight of your jig as depth,
wind or current increase. When in
doubt, go heavier.
Step 2: Consider the forage
Although a light jig will often accomplish the primary goal of bottom
contact, jigs with a bigger profile might
still be the answer if walleyes are
keying on larger forage.
Step 3: Use the right tool
Jig heads come in several shapes for a
reason. Use the right one for the job.
Ball-style jigs are most common. They
work well in current or still water for
casting and vertical jigging.
Lindy’s new X-Change Jig system gives
you the ability to change colors and
sizes quickly and easily without retying. This allows you to make quick
adjustments to changing wind speed,
depth, and light conditions.
Step 4: Change colors
Jig heads and plastics come in a
thousand hues. Yet, we insist on using
the same old favorites. Just because
something worked yesterday or even
this morning doesn’t mean it will work
now. Water clarity and light conditions
change constantly. Use trial and error
until you find a combination that
triggers strikes.
Keep switching even when you start
catching fish. If chartreuse or orange
seem to work, try different shades of
those colors to fine-tune the
6
Step 8: See the Bites
Line watching is critical to detecting
subtle bites and determining if your jig
is on the bottom. If your line twitches,
jumps, or stops before hitting the
bottom, set the hook. Try using as light
of pound test line as you can get by
with. Tuff-Line Dura Cast braided line
works great for rocks and snaggy areas
or jigging deep water.
presentation and see if a slight
variation will entice the biggest fish. If
the action stops, change up again. For
starters, try brighter colors in stained
or dirty water and darker colors for
clear.
Step 5: Vary live bait, too
Minnows are the choice in the cold
water of spring and fall. Leeches are
the favored bait in warmer water.
Nightcrawlers seem good across the
calendar. But, don’t be afraid to adjust.
There’s been many times during spring
floods when walleyes inhale worms
and ignore minnows. See what works.
Step 6: Alter jigging action
Walleyes will absolutely destroy a jig at
times. Other times, they don’t seem
interested at all. Perhaps a cold front
has passed through or the wind
direction changed. Attract the mostaggressive fish by popping your jig up,
then letting it fall back to the bottom.
Follow the jig down with the rod tip to
keep your line taut in order to maintain
control of the jig. Next, try a slow liftdrop, lift-drop. Then, try dragging it on
the bottom or quiver it slightly.
Step 9: Practice boat control
Boat control is essential to good jigging.
In current, point your bow upstream or
into the wind and use short bursts from
your electric trolling motor to match
your boat speed with the water flow.
Keep your line vertical below the boat
and watch your rod tip for a slight bow
to signal bottom contact. Keep your jig
on the critical “spot on a spot”.
Step 10: Fish Fish
The best jigging mechanics won’t do
any good if you aren’t fishing where the
fish are. Study the map of lake or river
section you are targeting to find likely
spots using what you know about
walleye movements in the calendar
period. Once on the water, move from
spot to spot using your electronics to
find forage fish and likely walleyes
before you start to fish.
These tips are sure to make you a
better walleye angler.
Step 7: Concentrate
Visualize where your jig is and what it
is doing. Use your jig as a tool to
gather information. For example, try to
feel subtle changes in the bottom.
Spots where it changes from hard to
soft can be a key area. Intense focus
Courtesy of the Plano Molding Co., Plano, IL
2010 Hall Mega Raffle sponsored by Lund Boats & Mercury Marine
T
here are only about 75 days left
in which to purchase your
tickets for this tremendous
fishing package. Tickets sell for $5
apiece or a card of 4 chances for $10.
They may be purchased on our website
at www.freshwater-fishing.org or by
calling us at 715.634.4440. The drawing
will be held on November 1, 2010 at
11am at the Hall. Someone has to win,
it may as well be you! Good luck.
2010 Hayward Crappie Contest
Gale-force winds and brisk conditions
welcomed anglers to the official
Wisconsin fishing opener and the first
annual Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame
2010 Hayward Crappie Contest on
Saturday, May 1st, in Hayward,
Wisconsin.
With hundreds of registrants entering
the contest, a total of six winners took
the stage during the official weigh-in
ceremony at the Fresh Water Fishing
Hall of Fame. The atmosphere was
warmed though with the cool sounds of
Molly Otis and the bright smiles worn
by fishermen wetting lines for the first
time this year.
The winners were:
ADULT
1st Place
Gary Dubois
2nd Place
John Isham
3rd Place
Brad Knudson
YOUTH
1st Place
Jon Aderman
2nd Place
Matt Kreyer
3rd Place
Jon Aderman
MEDIA DIVISION
1st Place
Dean Acheson
Nationally-televised and noted
outdoorsman Ron Schara emceed the
event, greeting anglers with wit and
humor during the weigh-in ceremony.
Woodbury, MN
Hayward, WI
Hayward, WI
1.71 lbs.
1.63 lbs.
1.60 lbs.
U.S.
Savings Bonds
$3,500
$2,000
$1,000
Hayward, WI
Hayward, WI
Hayward, WI
1.11 lbs.
1.07 lbs.
1.05 lbs.
$2,000
$1,000
$500
Minocqua, WI
0.77 lbs.
$1,000
Gary Dubois of Woodbury,
Minnesota is presented the
2010 Hayward Crappie
Championship Cup on May 1,
2010 by Ron Schara (left) and
Emmett Brown (right). Well
done Gary!
Bob Taylor Wins the Day of Fishing with Al Lindner Drawing
Bob Taylor of Circle Pines, Minnesota was the lucky person
to win a day of fishing with Hall Enshrinee Al Lindner. Al
took Bob and his father out on June 20, 2010 (Father's Day)
on Lake Mille Lacs, Minnesota pursuing the very game
smallmouth bass. As you can see by the accompanying
picture, a good time was had by all. Reportedly, the fishing
was very good as well. Bob also reports that his, "head is
still on cloud nine."
Bob won this drawing as part of an exclusive incentive to
upgrade his membership with the Hall. This program will
continue in 2011, as Al has graciously agreed to do it again.
Thank you Al and good luck to all who upgrade!
7
Troll, troll, troll your boat
By Legendary Angler Babe Winkelman
Contour crankbaiting for walleyes
While I’ve been out on the road filming
fishing shows, the guys in the office have
gone trolling crazy for walleyes after
work. The fishing reports have been
great, so I must admit that I’m a little
jealous that I’m not back in Brainerd, MN
joining them. “Fun fishing” and “film
fishing” are two different animals, and
fun fishing is, well, just more fun. There’s
no pressure, no cameras, no deadlines
…just plain fun.
S
o since I can’t get in a boat back
home at the moment, I thought I’d
write about how the guys are
getting their early-summer walleyes by
trolling weedline edges. First, let’s talk
about what a weedline is. In any lake,
aquatic vegetation will have what’s commonly referred to as a “weedline depth.” A
typical weed depth in freshwater lakes is
15 feet. That’s the depth where available
sunlight gets filtered so much that it can
no longer provide plants with the light
they need for survival. Naturally, water
clarity affects weedline depth considerably. A stained-water lake might have a
weedline depth of 7-8 feet, whereas a
crystal clear lake that allows deeper light
penetration can support 20+ foot weedline depths.
The outside edge of a weedline represents
a transition point between cover and open
water, and fish relate to this “edge” like
clockwork. One reason is because it’s an
ambush area. Predator fish can hide in
the weedy cover and quickly emerge to
strike an unsuspecting baitfish (or lure) as
it cruises past the edge. The outside edge,
particularly if it relates to a steep dropoff, also gives fish an easy escape route
to deep water if they’re pressured or if
weather conditions change dramatically.
8
When investigating a particular weedline
for walleyes, the types of vegetation can
definitely have a bearing on whether the
spot will be productive. A lily-pad edge,
for example, will be a poor walleye spot
since pads typically grow in shallow
muddier environments. You’ll catch a lot
of bass and bluegills there, but few
walleyes. Edges of reeds (pencil grass)
can be good since the bottom is typically
hard/sandy. For daytime walleyes, it’s
often necessary for the reed edge to be
close to a steep break. But for my money,
depth, you’ll have to use good oldfashioned trial and error to determine the
ideal troll speed and lure colors that
trigger strikes on that particular day. A
good starting point is a basic crankbait
that’s silver & black, running at a speed
between 1.5-2.5 MPH.
the vegetation species that’s #1 for
weedline walleyes is what we call
“cabbage.” This vertical, broad-leafed
aquatic plant provides the ideal cover for
walleyes and all species, and under the
right depth conditions it can produce a
crisp, definitive outside edge for effective
trolling.
After locating a fishy-looking weedline,
use available lake maps or your Lowrance
GPS [with a good lake map chip] to
identify key points and turns on that
weedline. These spots will usually concentrate the best numbers of fish. The next
step is to choose a crankbait, and depth
that will dictate which bait to use. If the
boat will be traveling at a depth of, say,
12 feet – then you want a crankbait that
will dive anywhere between 8-10 feet to
avoid digging into the bottom and hanging
up. Lure manufacturers will tell you the
dive depth of their baits [either on the
package or on the bait itself]. This is a
“general” dive depth, which will vary
depending on the trolling speed and
choice in fishing line. I highly recommend
thin, braided line for crankbait trolling. It
cuts through the water better than thicker
monofilament and delivers unmatched
sensitivity. The sensitivity is important for
two reasons. Obviously, it helps you
detect strikes. And furthermore, it tells
you if your bait is running properly. You
can feel the vibration of the crankbait. If
you pick up even a small weed, you’ll feel
that the lure isn’t swimming correctly.
Since braided line is no-stretch, you can
give the bait a good “rip” and usually
shake those clinging weeds loose.
When you’ve determined a suitable make/
model of crankbait for running at the right
Anglers will argue forever about how far
behind the boat to run the bait. Some guys
use line-counter reels to put the crankbait
out at precise, long distances. Others give
the bait a flip-cast and basically run it just
beyond the prop wash. Again, trial and
error will dictate the optimum distance. As
an easy rule-of-thumb: make a good long
cast behind the boat and free-spool out
another cast’s distance of line.
Contour trolling the weedline edge takes a
lot of focus. Your eyes will be on your
depth finder/GPS more than they’ll be on
the water ahead, because you’re literally
following the undulating “contour” of that
depth. You want to keep your boat as
close to that weedline edge as possible –
without running in too shallow and not
veering out into deeper, less productive
water. Be mindful of the distance your
bait is running behind the boat – to keep
it in the strike zone. For example, if you’re
coming up to a pronounced weedline
point, when the boat is at the tip of that
point [which is a productive spot], the bait
is still way back there. If you turn the boat
around the tip of the point too quickly, the
crankbait will end up cutting diagonally
through the weedy middle of the point
instead of rounding around the tip. So
hold your line in boat direction until the
lure gets to the point, then turn the boat
and allow that bait to sweep around
through the most productive water.
Once you get the hang of contour trolling,
it becomes second nature. And when the
crankbait bite is on, like it is on my home
waters right now, it’s one of the most
enjoyable and rewarding ways to hook
into a lot of walleyes.
Good Fishing!
Babe Winkelman is a nationally-known outdoorsman who has taught people to fish and hunt for
nearly 30 years. Watch his award-winning “Good
Fishing” and “Outdoor Secrets” television shows
on Versus (VS.), Fox Sports Net, Wild TV and many
local networks. Visit www.winkelman.com for air
times where you live.
Chris Slusar
The Chippewa Bait
M
ost collectors attach the
term “classic” to one or
several items that define the
essence of their hobby. In the lure
collecting world, this special word is
used to describe those pieces that are
original and creative in design, excellent
in quality and typically made prior to
1930. Like other areas of collecting,
lure classics don’t follow a strict
definition; however, certain pieces
would make the list of most hardcore
lure collectors. The Chippewa Bait is
one such gem.
Omer F. Immell of Blair, Wisconsin
designed the Chippewa Bait, probably
around 1909. An ambitious and
ingenious man, Immell was granted
patents for his unique and somewhat
complicated lure in November 1910 and
May 1911. Although earlier versions of
this collectible classic are documented,
the Chippewa design most collectors
recognize was not likely produced until
1913, shortly after the advent of the
Immell Bait Company.
The main portion of the bait was made
of red cedar; with a brass wire rigging
that encircled the entire body and
secured the treble hooks. The underside
of the bait included a brass framework
that was designed to add weight and
hold the centerpiece, a red painted and
silver spinner, stamped “PATD NOV 1
1910.” The full package was wrapped in
a heavy enamel finish that was available
in at least 11 different color
combinations. The Chippewa Bait was
available in sinking and floating models
with sizes ranging from 3 to 5 inches.
A key to the Chippewa’s early success
and today’s collector interest was
marketing. The lure was housed in a
white box paste board box with a catchy
label that included an American Indian
motif and the slogan, “The Chippewa
Bait – Chief of River and Lake.” For
reference, Chippewa is an alternate
reference for the Ojibwa band of North
American Indian. The box evolved over
time and can be found with at least
three distinct label styles. Immell
advertised heavily between 1913 and
1915 with promotional captions in The
Outers’ Book and National Sportsman
among others. Advertising was always
quite graphic and frequently declared
the Chippewa as, “The Bait That Makes
Good.”
Although the Chippewa Bait was well
made and promoted, it was fairly
short-lived. Around 1915, the Chippewa
and its companion bait, the Skipper,
were solely distributed by C.J. Frost, a
well-known fly fishing tackle
manufacturer and supplier. The exact
demise of the Chippewa is not known.
Can you ID?
The following was brought to me for
appraisal this past Spring:
This lure is known as the Drake’s
Sea-Bat. The bait was patented by
Harry F. Drake of Milwaukee,
Wisconsin in 1932. The value of this
piece without the box is $25-$40.
Add $50-$100 for the correct box.
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.
Some speculate that the new
distribution arrangement did not
generate the sales expected and
others suggest that the bait was
simply too complicated and costly to
produce profitably. Whatever the case,
advertising and manufacturing had
apparently discontinued around 1917
or 1918.
Today, the Chippewa Bait is highly
sought after by the collector
community. Its appealing design,
generally high quality and turn of the
century birth date demand attention
as a true classic and often command
substantial value. For those interested,
there is much more available on the
Chippewa Bait and the Immell Bait
Company- please contact me directly
with any queries.
This bass sized
Chippewa is in the
fancy greenback,
spotted sides
pattern. The bait is
accompanied by
the correct,
introductory style
box. Although the
box is lacking in
condition, the
combination has a
collector value of
$500-$1,000.
These two floating
style Chippewa’s
are in the solid
white and yellow
perch patterns.
“Floaters” are a
particularly tough
find. As usual,
condition drives
value. These two
have a collector
value of $500$900 each.
This bass sized
model is colored
red and yellow and
is accompanied by
the correct, 2nd
style box. This
combination has a
collector value of
$500-$1,000.
Until next time, enjoy an old lure!
9
Book Review | Remembering George W. Perry by Bill Baab
F
inally, a comprehensive book
about the life and times of George
Perry, holder of the all-tackle
world record largemouth bass.
Bill Baab’s extraordinarily well written
account of the world record largemouth
bass not only chronicles the catch, but it
gives great insight into the man who was
George Perry.
George was more than someone who just
happened to catch
the world record
largemouth bass. He
was an
accomplished pilot
and a marina
operator, a motor
cycle enthusiast, a
little bit of a
“jokester” and of
course, a skilled angler. George also won
Harper Walleye Reinstatement
The reason that Mr. Harper didn’t mount
his walleye shouldn’t indicate that something was “fishy” about his great catch.
On the contrary, during that time period
and in that part of the country where
people have always been known as hard
workers who eked out a subsistence living
off the land, Harper regarded his catch as,
first and foremost, food for the table. He
did, however, have a photograph taken of
the walleye’s head with a ruler on top of it
shortly after it had been dressed out and
cleaned. Herein lies a most unique and
very strong piece of documentation.
Keeping in mind the limitations of camera
perspective and distortion, there are
limits to what this photo can tell us about
the size of the walleye head. For example,
because the ruler is lying on top of the
walleye’s head (closer to the camera than
the end of the fishes gill plates) we can
not accurately ascertain the total length
of the walleye’s head without the result
being significantly understated. However,
because the walleye’s eye is higher up
and closer to the ruler, we can arrive at a
slightly underestimated or “lowballed”
measurement of the distance from the tip
of the walleye’s upper jaw to the posterior
edge of its eye socket. A straight
10
the Field & Stream “Big Fish Contest” in
1934 with a 13 lb. 14 oz. whopper bass!
Bill Baab’s masterpiece is a must read for
both the novice and dedicated angler
alike. We highly recommend it. Bill’s book
can be obtained from The Whitefish Press,
4240 Minmor Drive, Cincinnati, OH, 45217
or by going to their website at:
www.Whitefishpress.com.
– Editor
continued from page 5
measurement of this distance off the
photo yields a measurement of between
33/4 and 37/8 inches. Remember, because
the ruler is slightly closer to the camera
than this distance we know this measurement will be slightly “lowballed”. Therefore, using the upper end of this measurement of 37/8 inches would give us the
more accurate reading for this distance.
automobile, these photos show a fish
which more convincingly was as large as
claimed.
(Whitefish Press 2010)
Knowing this fact, we can come up with a
fairly accurate total head length for the
Harper walleye by assessing the photo of
Mrs. Harper holding the fish vertically.
This 37/8 eye to upper jaw distance can
also be used to yield a “lowballed” or
underestimated total length of the
walleye. It is important to keep in mind
that this length result will not represent
to actual length of the walleye, rather it
WILL give an underestimated or smaller
than actual length figure. This is because
the eye to upper jaw reference
measurement that is being used has been
taken from a position very close to the
horizon line or camera level. We know
the camera level or horizon in this photo
is at a point near the bottom edge of the
car windows because the distant tree line
visible through the car indicates this.
Knowing all of the above facts, once we
use the 37/8 inch reference measurement,
the Harper walleye’s head length
calculates to being close to 11 inches long
and the “lowballed” or underestimated
total length of the walleye comes to
around 39 inches. Remember, this
doesn’t mean the walleye was 39 inches
long; rather, it means that the walleye
had to be longer the 39 inches! This is
consistent with the reported length of
Harper’s walleye being 41 inches in
length.
In addition to the additional photographic
evidence supporting the Harper walleye,
there are also two key affidavits from a
Tennessee game warden named James
Spurling that further document the
walleye’s size. On a 1960 affidavit he had
signed, Spurling attested to the fact that
he had personally checked the scale
that the walleye was weighed on.
Furthermore, on an additional affidavit
that he had prepared shortly before he
had passed away, Warden Spurling
attested that he had also witnessed the
re-weighing of the walleye and that he
had personally measured the fish (which
was 41 inches in length). As further
evidence of this walleye’s existence, there
are even scale samples preserved from
the Harper’s 25 pound walleye.
So let the record be known in the walleye
world that the world record walleye of 25
pounds which measured 41 inches in
length was caught by Mabry Harper in the
great state of Tennessee in 1960 was a
most well documented claim and there
has never been any evidence to prove the
contrary.
World Angling Records Granted
16 lb.
14”
Ed
Raymond
Reynolds Pond,
Delaware, USA
4/21/2010
17 lb.
15”
Ed
Raymond
Trap Pond,
Delaware, USA
3/28/2010
10 lb.
18”
Tony
Salamon
Kentucky Lake,
Tennessee, USA
4/11/2010
MUSKELLUNGE/ 15 lb.
Hybrid or Tiger
43”
Conrad
Proctor
Lake Luena,
Michigan, USA
5/30/2010
3rd QUARTER - 2010 UPDATE
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.
NOTICE TO REPRINT
©COPYRIGHT 2010 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.
CRAPPIE/
White
“Kept” World Records List
Fish
BULLHEAD/
Brown
CHUB/Utah
Fish
PIKE/
Northern
Line
Class
2 lb.
8 lb.
Line
Class
15 lb.
tippet
DIVISION #1 – ROD/REEL
Lbs./
Ozs. Angler
Where Caught
Date
3-14. Roger
Round Pond,
5/22/2010
Aziz, Jr.
Massachusetts, USA
1-11
David A.
Franke
Flaming Gorge,
Wyoming, USA
DIVISION #2 – FLY FISHING
Lbs./
Ozs. Angler
Where Caught
30-0 Ivan
Smith Lake,
Keeney
Montana, USA
6/7/2010
Fish
REDHORSE/
Shorthead/
Northern
DIVISION #2 – FLY FISHING
Line
Class Length Angler
Where Caught
All23” Paul
Namakagon River,
Tackle
Kosmatka
Wisconsin, USA
(only)
TROUT/
Brook
6 lb.
Tippet
22”
Alan
Madden
Lit. SW Miramichi River, 6/15/2010
New Brunswick, Canada
14 lb.
Tippet
19”
Alan
Madden
Lit. SW Miramichi River, 6/15/2010
New Brunswick, Canada
17 lb.
Tippet
19”
Alan
Madden
Cascapedia River,
Quebec, Canada
25 lb.
Tippet
16”
Alan
Madden
Lit. SW Miramichi River, 6/15/2010
New Brunswick, Canada
Date
4/29/2010
“C&R” World Records List
DIVISION #1 – ROD/REEL
Fish
CATFISH/
Flathead
CRAPPIE/
Black
Line
Class
30 lb.
Length Angler
50” Charles Kevin
Maddox
Where Caught
Date
Lake Marion,
4/20/2010
South Carolina, USA
15 lb.
13”
Ed
Raymond
McGinnis Pond,
Delaware, USA
3/21/2010
15 lb.
15”
Ed
Raymond
Hudson Pond,
Delaware, USA
4/24/2010
16 lb.
13”
Ed
Raymond
McGinnis Pond,
Delaware, USA
3/21/2010
Brent Danylko Lake Trout, 44”, Clear
Water Lake, Manitoba, CAN, 4/11/10.
6/19/2010
Fish
TROUT/
Brook
DIVISION #3 – POLE/LINE/NO REEL
Line
Class Length Angler
Where Caught
Date
Longest 20” Alan
Lit. SW Miramichi River, 6/15/2010
(only)
Madden
New Brunswick, Canada
Fish
TROUT/
Lake
DIVISION #4 – ICE FISHING, TIP-UP
Line
Class Length Angler
Where Caught
Longest 44” Brent
Clearwater Lake,
(only)
Danylko
Manitoba, Canada
Ed Raymond Black Crappie, 15”, Trap
Pond, DE, USA, 3/28/10.
Alan Madden
Brook Trout, 16”,
Lit. SW Miramichi
River, New
Brunswick, CAN,
6/15/10.
Date
4/17/2010
Date
4/11/2010
Roger Aziz, Jr. Brown
Bullhead, 3-14, Round
Pond, MA, USA, 5/22/10.
Ivan Keeney Northern
Pike, 30-0, Smith Lake,
MT, USA, 4/29/10.
Paul Kosmatka Shorthead/ Northern
Redhorse, 23”, Namakagon River, WI,
USA, 4/17/10.
Charles Kevin Maddox Flathead Catfish,
50”, Lake Marion, SC, USA, 4/20/10.
11
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