Splash 4.13 - Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum

The Official
Publication of
the Fresh Water
Fishing Hall
of Fame
VOL. 37
NO. 2
Spring 2013
Inside:
2013 Hall Lapel Pin,
page 2
Hall Awards Are
Presented,
pages 3 and 4
Early Season
Walleyes by
Legendary
Communicator Terry
Tuma, page 5
Crappies Galore by
Legendary Angler
Ted Takasaki, page 6
Milk Route Muskies
by Legendary
Communicator James
Lindner, page 7
Pass on the Heritage
by Legendary
Communicator
Kenneth Kieser,
page 8
News from Our
Members, page 9
World Record Striped Bass
See page 9
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: fishhall@cheqnet.net
Printed February 15, May 15,
August 15, November 15
Programs and Activities
• Recognition of World Fresh Water
Sportfishing Records
• Record Book Published Annually
• Recognition for Achievement of
Excellence in Sportfishing
• Educational Museum of Sportfishing
Artifacts and Library
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
John Dettloff . . . . . . . . . . . . President
Bill Beckwith . . . . . . . . . .Vice President
Ted Dzialo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Secretary
Tom Turngren . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Treasurer
Scott Allen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Director
Dave Perkins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Director
Don Robinson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Director
Harold Tiffany. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Director
Wendy Williamson . . . . . . . . . . . . Director
Ben Wold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Director
Awards Committee Members
Elmer Guerri (Indiana). . . . . . . . . . . . . Chairman
Wendy Williamson (Wisconsin) . . . . . Vice Chair
Clem Dippel (Wisconsin) . . . . . . . . . . . . Member
Dr. Mike Dombeck (Wisconsin). . . . . . . Member
Dr. James Gammon (Indiana) . . . . . . . . Member
Dr. Todd Larson (Ohio) . . . . . . . . . . . . . Member
Tim Lesmeister (Minnesota) . . . . . . . . . Member
Gil Radonski (North Carolina) . . . . . . . . Member
David Rainer (Alabama). . . . . . . . . . . . . Member
Gregg Wollner (Minnesota) . . . . . . . . . . Member
Forrest Wood (Arkansas) . . . . . . . . . . . Member
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
2 © Copyright 2013 Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame, Inc.
May 1, 2013
Our museum grounds have been open for a couple of weeks and tonight’s forecast
is for up to a foot of snow! What’s wrong with that picture? Not to worry. Mother
Nature has a way of catching up. Before we know it, our gardens will be in full
bloom and our grounds will be awash with visitors. I can’t wait!
This past winter I attended several sports shows throughout our great nation. One
thing is certain, sportfishing is back! No doubt about it. A new generation of
fishing enthusiasts have emerged and they are itching to get on the water
whenever they can. I have also witnessed this trend over the last few years at our
location in Hayward, Wisconsin. I think this phenomenon has come about for
several reasons. As our population has urbanized, a need to “escape” has dawned.
New trends are always led by the young. Another sportfishing motivator is the
tackle industry itself. Between the myriad of fishing shows on television and their
highly produced tackle ads, our sportfishing heritage and opportunities have never
been more widely publicized. From where I sit, this is a very good thing and
sportfishing is in very capable hands.
In a few days the general sportfishing season will open in Wisconsin and young
and old alike will be looking for that first gentle tug on the end of their lines. I hope
you are one of them!
Until August,
Emmett
2013 Hall Lapel/Hat Pin Now on Sale!
As most of you know, the State of Wisconsin no longer allows us to send raffle
materials through the mail. This has put a real damper on this very important fund
raiser for us. As the old
expression goes, "Time to move
on!"
We receive many requests at our
gift shop for lapel/hat pins every
year. Enter our first, in a
continuing annual series, of
limited edition pins for Hall
members. This very nice pinback
is actually made from a genuine
Mepps #3 Aglia blade and
comes in its own decorative box.
We will only sell 500.
The cost is only $14.95 which includes shipping (anywhere in the United States) and
all applicable sales taxes. Shipping outside of the U.S. is an additional $5.
Please show your support for the Hall and order yours today! They are available on
our website at www.freshwater-fishing.org or call us at 1.715.634.4440. Thank you.
Note: Please see the flyer in this issue of The Splash for further ordering details.
Hall Awards Are Presented!
Hall director Emmett Brown speaks to a capacity audience at the Hall’s induction
ceremony at the Northwest Sport Show in Minneapolis, Minnesota on March 23, 2013.
(Photos courtesy of Outdoor News)
Legendary Communicator for 2012 George Kramer (right)
presents Mike Folkestad with his 2013 Legendary Angler plaque
on March 7, 2013 at the Fred Hall Long Beach, California Sport
Show. Thank you George for representing the Hall and another
round of congratulations are in order for Mike!
(Photo courtesy of George Kramer)
Left to right: “Tackle” Terry Tuma, Al Maas, Bill Lindner and Dan Sura.
Tom Christianson (left) presents to Hall director Emmett Brown
his donation for 2013. Tom very graciously sets aside a portion of
his guiding fees for the Hall on an annual basis. Thank you very
much Tom! For more information about Tom’s guiding business
and his new tackle company please visit his website at
www.walleyemaxx.com.
Become a
Member Today!
www.freshwater-fishing.org
Front row (left to right): 2013 inductees Al Maas; Dan Sura, Terry Tuma and Bill
Lindner. Middle row (left to right): Ted Takasaki; Tom Neustrom; Gary Roach, James
Lindner; Jim Kalkofen and Randy Amenrude. Back row (left to right): Steve Baumann;
Mark Fisher; Chris Kuduk; Marv Koep; Dick Gryzwinski and Ron Schara. A huge thanks
to Northwest Sport Show manager Jennifer Thompson and the National Marine
Manufacturers Association for their continuing hospitality at this fine venue.
Congratulations to all!
3
Colombo Enshrinement
By Awards Committee Chairman Elmer Guerri
David Rainer (left), of the the Hall’s Awards Committee, congratulates Larry
Colombo. On Larry’s left is the Hall’s Awards Committee Chairman Elmer
Guerri getting ready to present Larry with his enshrinement plaque. David is
Alabama’s DNR Public Information Officer.
Larry Colombo (right) with Johnson Outdoors / Humminbird CEO Helen
Johnson-Leipold (center) along with former Humminbird ownership Tom
Dyer, Jim Balkcom and Bill Moorer (left to right).
– Photo by The Eufaula Tribune
Over 300 people attended the Enshrinement
Celebration for Larry Colombo held in
Eufaula, Alabama on April 16. The ceremony
was held at the Johnson Outdoors/
Humminbird plant on the shore of beautiful
Lake Eufaula. The Enshrinement plaque was
presented to Larry Colombo by Elmer Guerri,
Chairman of the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of
Fame Selection Committee and David Rainer,
a member of the Selection Committee.
The employees and staff of Humminbird
attended the luncheon celebration held
outdoors, followed by a gala reception and
award presentation ceremony. Current
Humminbird management staff who presided
over the ceremonies included Craig Packard,
Operations Manager; David Holly, Personnel
Manager; and Jeff Kolodzinski, Public
Relations Manager. Also in attendance was
Helen Johnson, CEO of Johnson Outdoors,
which includes Humminbird and Minn-Kota,
with headquarters in Racine, Wisconsin and
Mankato, Minnesota.
CEO Johnson presented Colombo with the
prestigious Samuel Curtis Johnson
Distinguished Service Award, in recognition
of the outstanding contribution made by
Colombo to the fresh water fishing industry.
The elegant Silver Loon Distinguished Service
Award is one of the most highly coveted and
prestigious awards given in honor of Helen
Johnson’s father, founder of Johnson Wax,
parent company of the Johnson Outdoors
family of companies.
The Enshrinement ceremony provided the
opportunity for reunion with Colombo and
the entire top level management team of
Techsonics Industries / Humminbird during
the twenty-two years when Colombo served
as Public Relations Manager. The retired key
managers who returned for the ceremony
4
– Photos courtesy of Humminbird/Johnson Outdoors
included Jim Balkom, President; Tom Dyer,
Vice President of Marketing and Sales; and
Bill Moorer, Vice President of Production.
This reunion was the first time those retired
managers returned as a group to the Eufaula
plant.
Ceremony attendees were given a tour of the
production line for the revolutionary
Humminbird 360 Imaging surround sonar,
technology which takes Side Imaging and
Down Imaging to a whole new level, allowing
users to see 360 degrees around their boat
in high definition detailing an area up to 300
feet in diameter.
In addition to the dozens of messages and
well-wishes from guests and associates,
Humminbird presented Colombo with his
own Lenovo Laptop Computer as a token of
appreciation for his twenty-two years of
Former Humminbird Owners and Larry. Tom Dyer,
Jim Balkcom, Larry Colombo and Bill Moorer (left
to right).
service and in honor of his Enshrinement.
The prevalent theme throughout the
ceremony stressed the importance of people
and excellence to the success of the Johnson
Outdoors / Humminbird family, and the
qualities reflected in the criteria for the
Enshrinement Award, as exemplified by Larry
Colombo.
The crowd gathers for Larry’s Enshrinement.
A banner commemorating Larry’s Enshrinement.
Photo of one of the
handful of signs
commemorating
Larry’s
Enshrinement
An all-employee picnic celebrating Larry
Colombo’s Hall of Fame Enshrinement.
Locations and Early Season Walleye Baits By Legendary Communicator “Tackle” Terry Tuma
O
ne question consistently
resonates among anglers during
early May: Where can we find
walleyes?
speed, and occasionally pull the rod tip
forward. (This style works with multiple
species, including lake trout and pike or
muskies.) Don’t just drag it behind the
boat; do an occasional pump-pause, too.
When live-bait rigging, change your bait
up and hook it through the tail. Simple
changes like this can make a big
difference.
It’s one that I’ve heard many times in
recent days and weeks, and I have a few
logical answers.
For starters, let’s customize this question
to 2013, when it appears we’ll be facing
seasonably cool water temperatures and
fishing conditions. As we speak, we’re
seeing at best average temps, with no
unseasonably warm weather in the longrange forecast.
Walleyes start spawning in water that’s 45
to 49 degrees, so that provides a good
timing factor for fish locations. By the
time water temps hit the low 50s, the
post-spawn has taken place and anglers
begin seeing increased fish activity. By
mid-May, here’s betting Midwesterners
will either find spawning fish or those in
the early post-spawn period.
Under those circumstances, anglers
should be targeting warmer bodies of
water. Look for shallower lakes, which
warm up faster.
Keep in mind, this forecast is extremely
dependent on weather, and a few days of
70s or 80s could change everything fast.
One year we encountered a tough bite
after a surprisingly fast warmup. We
spoke with some biologists, and they said
the walleyes had dumped all their eggs in
one night. A quick warm-up can do that.
Use your electronics to see if fish are still
occupying spawning grounds or have
moved off. Post-spawn fish will be at the
closest spot that offers food, security, and
resting areas. Look to points, turns,
outside and inside bends on a breakline,
and especially drop-offs adjacent to
spawning areas. Offshore flats, weeds,
and shallow reefs (always near spawning
ground) are obvious locations.
Finally, when jigging, everyone works a
lift-drop method. That’s fine, but
sometimes bring it up and hold. Your
minnow is the attractor and trigger; the
jig is just the mechanism for moving it.
So use a just-heavy-enough jig to contact
the bottom and keep it vertical. No more!
Blast From the Past!
“Tackle” Terry Tuma
and June. My top presentations include:
jig and minnow, live bait rigs, three-ways,
a Guppy weight system, and crankbaits.
Let’s elaborate on some of these
techniques.
Crankbaits are an underused technique,
but more productive than many people
realize. In colder water temperatures, plan
on a slower, more deliberate type of
presentation. It’s kicker motor time, and
stick with smaller lures, perhaps those
with a more subtle vibration.
When we’re talking jigs, this again
depends on water temperatures, but I’ll
stick with a plain, short-shanked jig with a
minnow. Vary the size of minnows. If
water temperatures come up, use larger
minnows and maybe add some dressing.
The whole time I’m on the water, I’m
considering the weather and activity level
of fish. Many fish won’t relate to leeches.
But if water temperatures reach the mid50s, I’ll definitely use leeches.
These two pictures (circa 1940) were recently restored
by the Library of Congress and tell quite a story.
Although fishing techniques have changed dramatically
over the past 70 years, the object is still the same – to
have fun! Also notice on the top picture that one of the
youths is taking advantage of a discarded tire on the
creek’s edge. Some things never change!
We tend to use jumbo leeches, but
medium leeches will be productive. That
smaller profile is good.
And if you catch a spawning female
walleye, please release it to help maintain
the fishery. Keep a few smaller males if
you need something for the frying pan.
In the evening, consider long-line trolling
the shallows with crankbaits. Anglers tend
to think of long and slim crankbaits for
walleyes, but that’s not always true. I’ve
had good luck casting or trolling Shad
Raps.
Top early season baits and lures
Here’s a quick run-down of what I’ll have
in my arsenal for fishing walleyes in May
Also, when trolling with cranks, anglers
should troll in an S-pattern, vary their
Fishing the way it used to be in an urban environment.
The Fishermen’s Dude Ranch (circa 1960) in Morton
Grove, Illinois (a near northern suburb of Chicago).
Editor’s Note: I took particular joy in finding this old
postcard, as this was one of my “stomping grounds”
growing up in Chicago. I still remember the time my
father was handed the bill for the trout my friend and I
caught there one day. Suffice it to say he had a very
frank discussion with the trout farm manager.
5
Crappies Galore
By Legendary Angler Ted Takasaki and Scott Richardson
Navigate the early season and find
hidden spots others miss.
If the lake features a lot of boat docks,
focus on the ones with deep water
nearby. Another important spot to check:
old weed beds that survived the winter.
Methods will vary depending on where and
how deep the target is.
ishing for crappies offers a spectacular opportunity for early-season
fun throughout the upper Midwest.
The enjoyment includes not only
catching, but eating them as well. Crappies
are considered some of the best-tasting
fish that swim. Early in spring is a peak
time to get them while they’re schooled on
structure and holding around cover that
makes them relatively easy to find.
F
On larger lakes, crappies will hold in the
same bays where anglers were cutting
holes in the ice to reach them just a few
weeks earlier. The best bays feature water
shallower than 10 feet and dark, sandy
points and flats where they’ll soon be
laying their eggs.
Look for the warmest water you can
find. Northern (south-facing) dark-bottom
bays warm first. Be sure to check bays that
receive wind-blown warm surface
water. Larger lakes sometimes have
smaller lakes attached to them. That’s
where you’ll find early-season crappies.
Anglers often overlook a key location in
Midwestern reservoirs – feeder
creeks. Water warms there first in
reservoir systems, so baitfish – followed by
crappies – move up to take advantage of
food they find there.
If you’re unfamiliar with the creeks, go
slow to avoid knocking a lower unit against
a stump or a tree that’s blown down. The
One fun way to fish shallow wood is to use
a long rod with a quick tip and some
backbone, in order to reach out over tree
limbs and drop a Lindy jig with a small
crappie minnow into spaces between the
branches.
Ted Takasaki
wood, especially wood in very shallow
water, will hold crappies. Travel as far back
as you can into the creeks and start
fishing. Shore anglers can target these
areas, too.
On main lakes, shallow water takes time to
warm early in the year. Save shallow
targets until the sun does its job. Early in
the day, crappies will merely move higher
in the water column over deeper water.
Also find crappies along rocky shoreline
riprap, if present.
Cover is usually key. Crappies love wood,
whether fallen timber or submerged
brush. Exposed wood collects heat from
the sun and radiates it to nearby water to
ignite the plankton-baitfish-predator food
chain. Deeper brush offers concealment as
fish move toward the shallows to feed.
The shallows can be sight fished, but
deeper brush piles can be harder to find.
Old-timers know to go to likely points,
lower a jig and move slowly with the
electric trolling motor. This is when a snag
is a good thing, because it signals that
you’ve found a brush pile. Toss a buoy and
you’re in business.
Hall of famer Ted Takasaki with a slab-and-ahalf, a monster crappie that fell for a Thill slipfloat rig, fished as described in the article.
Follow Ted’s ideas and you’ll be fast to fish this
spring yourself. No matter what the conditions,
no matter what stage of the spring.
6
Good news for today’s anglers: there are
easier ways to find deeper brush and other
cover. Enter the next generation of
electronics, such as Humminbird’s Side
Imaging technology. The screen details
cover like brush piles, stumps, or rocks –
out to the sides of the boat, up to 240 feet
away. Once you spot a brush pile on the
side imager, just drag your cursor over to
the brush pile and hit a waypoint. It
automatically saves the spot in memory,
making it easy to find later. Being able to
do this might tick off some old timers, but
we always say they have access to the
same technology, too!
If you need to stay away to avoid spooking
fish, use a slip-bobber rig with the Thill Pro
Weighted series to let you stay back and
still get where you need to go. Use a
thread-style bobber stop, a bead, the float
and a barrel swivel to a leader of line
lighter than the main one. If you get
snagged, you can break off without losing
the entire setup. Use enough split-shot in
order to balance the float. The key is to get
the float to ride just high enough in the
water so that you can see it, yet low
enough to allow a light-biting crappie to
pull it under easily.
During especially tough bites, downsize.
Try an ice-style jig, like a Lindy Bug or
Toad, dressed with a wax worm under
small, Thill floats like the Mini Stealth or
Shy Bite.
Riprap, which warms the water, often
holds the most aggressive fish. Use a
small jig dressed with a small plastic grub
and/or a wax worm or piece of
nightcrawler. Move fast along the rocky
faces of dams or bridges, casting and let
the bait fall to the bottom before slowly
retrieving it just over the rocks. Count it
down for two reasons. 1) If the bait stops
short of the last count, set the hook,
because a crappie probably took it while it
was falling. 2) Counting down also lets you
test shallower depths on subsequent casts
to see if crappies are suspended.
Use the same setup to cast over the tops
of submerged weeds. Or, drift over the top
with slip-bobber rigs. Drop a buoy or enter
a waypoint on the GPS when you connect
with fish. Soon, you’ll have an idea of the
size, shape and even direction of travel of
the school.
Shallow weeds can be fished like bass
anglers do. Simply flip a small jig and
plastic into holes in the weeds and reel it
back through natural avenues through the
weed bed. Target docks by using light,
flexible, short rods to “sling-shot” Little
(continued on page 10)
Milk Route Muskies By Legendary Communicator James Lindner
daylight wanes, the wind picks up, or
some other trigger flips their switch, the
fish start getting serious about feeding.
When they do, they may blast your lures
with a vengeance as soon as your baits hit
the water.
L
egend has it that muskies are the
fish of 10,000 casts, and that
spending enormous amounts of
time on the water is the key to
catching them.
Perhaps back in the day…but no way today!
More likely, an aggressive muskie may
follow tightly behind the lure, flexing its
gills and body while nipping at the lure’s
tail, or repeatedly lunging at it as it
sweeps, swims or glides through the
water. You can literally tell the difference
between a lazy and an aggressive fish just
by looking at its behavior in the water.
Lazy fish may be incapable of being
caught, but when they’re on the chew, it’s
prime time to take advantage of their
enhanced vulnerability. The moment of
truth, so to speak.
While patience is indeed a virtue,
knowledge is the real key to muskie fishing
success. Because once you understand
your quarry, you can present the right lures,
in the right places, under the right
conditions to generate a response.
Even muskies!
Muskie Mystique vs. Modern Mechanics
Like any other fish species, muskies have
their own quirks, habits and instincts. Their
tendencies to ride high in the water, and to
follow lures to the boat, both taunt and
haunt anglers, leaving the false impression
that muskies are smarter and wilier than
the average fish. In reality, it’s simply what
they do when they’re not locked into full in
feeding mode, or when your presentation
isn’t quite right for the conditions. As such,
it drives most anglers bonkers, and
understandably so.
Get things right, however, and even
muskies throw caution to the winds,
pouncing upon lures with wild abandon.
Smashing strikes, slashing runs and highflying acrobatics convert high-efficiency
casting or trolling tactics into heartpounding excitement.
Establishing a Milk Route
Most experienced anglers would agree that
finding muskies is the first step toward
catching them, which seems remarkably
obvious, yet is subtly profound. Because if
the first step is locating them, the second is
relocating them over and again, in an
attempt to be there at the right time and
place when the magic happens.
A typical muskie day on the water involves
lots of casting or trolling, interspersed with
brief flurries where you spot fish that follow
your lures or rise to your baits. Even if fish
don’t strike on the first sighting—which is
oh-so common—you’ve found them, and can
enter a waypoint on your GPS to mark their
location. This also stores the potential
location of other muskies which may
happen to gravitate to the same area,
drawn by some productive combination of
depth, cover and forage.
Even the biggest fish are seldom loners;
several more of equally magnificent
proportions my be lurking nearby.
James Lindner
So you fish likely areas: points, bay mouths,
humps, rock reefs, large weed flats, or
other prominent structures with high
likelihoods of attracting muskies, at least
some of the time. Sighting fish allows you
to begin formulating a pattern as to the
depth, type of structure, and form of cover
they’re using. Something as simple as
realizing that fish are currently relating to
rocks vs. weeds—or vice versa—eliminates a
lot of unproductive water, and allows you to
focus your efforts in areas fish are actually
using.
While large structures tend to attract
numbers of fish, it is remarkable how small,
key features on those structures--like large
boulders, turns along the deep outside
weedline, the crests of humps, certain reed
clumps, or other distinguishable areas-repeatedly hold the most active fish. Time
and again, you can return to these key
spots and literally expect someone to be
home. They may not always be in a biting
mood; much of the time, muskies may
simply follow lures to the boat and then
turn away at the last moment. But at least
you know they’re around, and that
knowledge breeds confidence and draws
you back for a return engagement.
Establishing a milk route of key spots
allows you to jump from spot to spot, fire a
few casts to the highest-percentage areas
for fish contact, and then move on to the
next spot…and the next…and so on. The
strategy hinges upon the fact that, sooner
or later, fish are going to turn on, become
more aggressive, and increase your odds of
catching them. As storm fronts roll in,
First and foremost, when an aggressive
fish follows tightly behind your lure, don’t
lift the bait out of the water. Don’t even
slow your retrieve. In fact, do the opposite,
increasing its pace. As the lure reaches a
position about 3 feet off your rod tip,
plunge the rod tip into the water and
execute a broad, sweeping, Figure 8
maneuver, rapidly swirling it back and
forth in an Infiniti-symbol pattern, well
beneath the surface. Large, sweeping
motions allow big, long fish to turn their
bodies and follow baits; conversely, little
flip-flops of a lure cause the fish to lose
eye contact and interest. Don’t be afraid to
churn the lake for 15 to 30 seconds if an
active fish is around. You might look
ridiculous, but beneath the surface, your
lure appears good enough to eat.
Many times, a following fish will come
back to make one or more passes at the
lure, and hopefully, be triggered into
striking. It’s the best way to convert
follows into strikes. And on just 3 feet of
line, it’s a memorable jolt when they do.
You’d best have your drag on your reel set
to slip under sudden extreme prejudice.
7
Pass on the Fishing Heritage
Legendary Communicator Kenneth L. Kieser
Kindness towards a child may still be
remembered many years later. This
column is my way of thanking a very
special fisherman who was nice to me
about 45 years ago.
shock. “I can’t wait to try them.”
“Just don’t ever stop fishing kid,” he said.
I moved away in shock to find my buddy, Bob
who had wandered another direction and
stood in line waiting for a corndog behind a
portly woman and her three simple looking
kids. My pal looked miserable.
y buddy, Bob Guerra and I both
lived to fish in those simple days
when dad and mom still paid the
bills and school grades were our
biggest worry. Our homes were close to a
lake and we made housewives angry daily by
occasionally stomping through flower beds
while reaching our best fishing spots.
M
Painstaking hours of research uncovered
cherished places where fish gobbled down
baits offered on bronze-colored hooks like
sacrifices to the fishing Gods. The fishing bug
bit us during our formative years when girls
were still little more than an idle curiosity and
generally pests. We earned money by mowing
lawns, throwing hay bales or shoveling snow
to buy fishing tackle.
We constantly studied fishing articles from
old periodicals that had been handed down
from a neighbor. Titles like Outdoor Life, Field
and Stream, Fur, Fish and Game, Argosy, True
and other classic magazines enticed us with
photos of huge largemouth bass jumping with
a lure tucked in their jaw like a cigar in my fat
grandpa’s mouth. Big bass were still a
mystery we were trying to solve.
The Kansas City Sports Show in January was
one of our favorite times for fighting Spring
fever. We loved to explore each booth,
especially lure companies that were still
privately owned in the 1960’s. Magazine
articles taught us names like Heddon,
Shakespeare and Arbogast Lures who always
had booths at the show, free brochures and
occasionally real treasures like key rings. I
never imagined that the Gods of fishing would
cast their blessings on me this cold January
night.
Fred Arbogast,
inventor of two of the
world’s best top water
lures, the Jitterbug and
The Hula Popper, died
in 1947, six years
before I was born. My
father and grandfather
had always caught
bass with his Hula
Poppers on our farm
Dick Kotis
pond, so I paid close
attention to outdoor stories about Arbogast’s
Dick Kotis. The older, well-tanned gentleman
8
“Bob, I just met Dick Kotis, and he gave me
three lures,” I blurted out. “You need to forget
this and get over there now in case he has
more.”
Ken Kieser
was featured in magazine articles and
Arbogast advertisements. He rated up there
with Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, at least
in my mind.
So, it was a complete shock to see the
legendary Kotis standing in his booth on that
winter night in Kansas City, being ignored by
the crowd. I remember this conversation as if
it happened yesterday.
“Uh, Mr. Kotis,” I stammered, not used to
meeting famous people.
“Yes, son, what can I do for you?” he
answered in a deep, professional voice.
“Well, I, uh, just wanted to say I like your
lures and have read about you in magazines.”
“So, you like to fish?” he asked.
“Well, yes sir, I do, mostly with worms under
a bobber. My buddy Bob and I catch a lot of
bluegill and an occasional catfish.”
“Yes, bluegill and catfish are fun to catch,” he
answered, no doubt amused. “Have you ever
caught a largemouth bass?”
“Only small ones on worms I dug up in my
mother’s garden.”
“Well, I’ll tell you what I’ll do,” he said. “My
boss told me to give a couple of our best
lures to a special fisherman and I think you
may be the one. Here are three for you to try
and then let me know if they work better than
your mother’s earth worms.”
I stood there in the middle of a passing crowd
and admired the items of beauty in my hands
while not realizing that he actually was the
boss at Arbogast. This legend of fishing had
given me a Hula Popper, a Jitterbug and a
Hawaiian Wiggler. Each reflected absolute
beauty under the plastic confines of packaging that I wish he had autographed—but
who knew about that kind of stuff at age 12?
“Uh, thank you sir,” I stammered, still in
“Alright, but let me get my corndog first,” he
said, clearly more hungry than anxious to
meet a legend bearing gifts, a mistake he
regrets to this day.
We quickly returned to the Arbogast booth
while Bob chewed on the corndog. By then
some young guy had replaced Mr. Kotis. Bob
talked to him, but didn’t even receive a
brochure or a key ring. My dad drove us home
that evening; me with my prize lures and Bob
with indigestion.
The Midwest finally thawed out four months
later. Early on a Saturday morning I walked to
the shoreline of my father’s farm pond where
the surface was smooth as glass. I didn’t
know how to tie a real fishing knot and
quickly attached my treasured Jitterbug on
old 10 pound test with several granny knots. I
examined the lure and line like an expert
angler before stepping towards the pond.
Next came the moment of truth I had
envisioned over and over again during most
school lectures. The time had come for me to
launch my prize into a pond of hungry largemouth bass. My Zebco 33 and matching rod
strained to cast the lure that was considerably heavier than a bobber, hook and worm.
The heavy lure splashed down beside a
stump. I reeled once, “KER-PLUNK.” A big
bass hit the lure, made a solid run that made
my Zebco 202’s drag make a sickening kind
of grinding noise and “TWANG” my line broke.
I watched in horror while a heavy “V” split the
surface as the bass stole my treasure. The
Hula Popper lasted longer, two casts, before
another good bass ripped up the surface with
a ferocious attack. I managed to hang on for
four good runs until “POW,” my line broke
again.
I fought back tears while tying on the
Hawaiian Wiggler, sort of an early type of
spinnerbait and my last prized lure. I quickly
wiped off the unwanted moisture from my
cheek and cast out toward an old log. I
(continued on page 10)
News From Our Members
Galusha Destined
to be a Pro?
Judging by Hall Legendary Communicator Dan Galusha’s
determined look, even at a very young age he was
determined to become a professional fisherman. These
pictures were provided by Dan’s 92 year old mother.
What other treasures is dear ol’ mom holding on to Dan?
Nice Turkey!
Hall Member Catches a
World Record!
We’ll Miss You!
“TAMPA, Fla., -4/1/2013 -- Doug
Hannon, a legend
in the fishing world
known as the
“Bass Professor”
whose unique
expertise in a wide
range of design
skills and
academic subjects
in and outside of angling, died Thursday at his
home in Keystone, a north Tampa suburb.
Hannon was 66.
On February 28, 2013 Hall member James R. Bramlett
(left) caught the all-tackle (Kept) world record inland
Striped Bass on Alabama’s Black Warrior River
weighing in at a whopping 69 pounds and 9 ounces. To
say this catch is a one of a lifetime, would be an
understatement. Congratulations James!
Hall Mercury
Motor Raffle!
He recently had neck surgery and was
recovering at home, said friend Russ Riley, a
family spokesman and president of WaveSpin/
MicroWave, a fishing components design
company Hannon launched eight years ago, and
which he served as its chief engineer.”
(Reprinted from a Johnson Communications,
Inc. press release). Editor’s note: Hannon was a
2000 Legendary Angler inductee in to the Fresh
Water Fishing Hall of Fame. Doug will be sadly
missed!
Hall Member Honored
in New York!
This isn’t fishing, but Hall member and Legendary
Communicator Kenneth Kieser shot a very nice turkey
at the recent Kansas Governor’s One-Shot Turkey
Hunt. Kenny was invited as a celebrity hunter for the
first time in 2013. This well--run event is the envy of
other states and several are copying. Ken’s gobbler
had a 10 inch beard, 1-1/4 inch spurs and was
approximately 3 years old. Guide Christopher Grant
(left) and Ken are posing for their official photo. They
took about 10th out of 50 hunters. Congratulations
Kenny! –Photo compliments of the Kansas Governor's
One-Shot Turkey Hunt.
Who wouldn’t want to own a brand new Mercury 9.9
hp 4 stroke outboard? Now is your chance. All spring,
summer and fall we will be selling tickets for this
motor at our location in Hayward, Wisconsin and
throughout a few other prime locations in the Hayward
area. It won’t cost you much to enter. Tickets will be
priced at $2 each, 3 for $5 or 7 for $10. The drawing
will be held on November 1, 2013 at the Hall. This
motor is being sponsored by Mercury Marine, John’s
Motor Sports and Advance Printing of Hayward. Thank
you to all our sponsors.
Longtime Hall member
and supporter Chuck
Booker was recently been
notified he will be
inducted for 2013 in to
the New York State Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame. Chuck was honored at
their recent April 27th banquet held in
Canastota, New York. According to their recent
press release, “Chuck Booker is a man whose
love of fishing has led him to introduce others to
success and spend (sic) his lifetime helping
conservation causes. He has devoted countless
hours and money to many events ranging from
restoring wetlands to breast cancer preventions.”
Congratulations Chuck!
McFadden Is Still Reeling Them In!
Hall Legendary
Guide Gary
McFadden reports
that fishing on the
Kenai River in
Alaska was pretty
fair during the fall
of 2012. Judging
by these pictures,
Gary is being
modest. Way to go
Gary!
9
Pass on the Fishing Heritage (continued from page 8) Crappies Galore
(continued from page 6)
managed to reel the lure several feet, feeling
the satisfying vibration it made.
Nippers underneath.
I managed to land a bass that probably
weighed about a pound and quickly secured
the flopping fish on my stringer, then cast out
again with hopes of catching one of the big
bass that no doubt still had one of my lures in
its mouth.
As the water continues to warm, look for
crappies suspended off the outside weed
lines. Cast a Fuzz-E-Grub jig tipped with a
minnow and let it fall. Also check fish cribs
with the jig/spinner or a slip-bobber
rig. Drifting areas off weed lines with slipbobbers can also be productive.
I felt the vibration one last time just before
the next bass hit and “PING” the line broke. I
lost my three treasured lures in less than 30
minutes. I had waited four months for a
devastating lesson that would haunt me until
the end of time—change the damned fishing
line.
I glanced around the pond’s bank to make
sure no one was close by before really letting
a stream of cuss words fly. After all, I was 12
years old and boys didn’t cry under any
circumstance—we cussed—unless adults were
around—then we pouted.
I have lost hundreds of lures since that day
and have forgotten about most, except for the
The author and his daughter during a fly fishing lesson
on the family's north pond. Photo by Rodney Kieser
three that were given to me many years ago
by a legendary gentleman. Mr. Kotis faded
into history, that pond has since dried up and
his lures he gave me are gone but 43 years
later I still remember his parting words to me:
One word off caution: contrary to what
some believe, panfish populations can take
a beating from more and smarter
fishermen equipped with the latest
technologies. Take only enough for a meal
or two. That way, there’ll be more for you
when you return next weekend – not to
mention next spring.
SUPPORT YOUR HALL!
“Just don’t ever stop fishing kid.”
World Angling Records Granted
Steve Knapp • PERCH/Yellow
Div. #4 – Ice Fishing, Pole/Line.
Longest (only) line class. 12”.
Lake Onalaska, Wisconsin.
3/16/2013
Steve Norris • BASS/Spotted
Div. #1 – Rod/Reel. 2 lb. line
class. 17”. Nickajack
Headwaters, Tennessee.
3/29/2013
Leonard J. Kouba
CATFISH/Redtail
10
Photos of Jitterbugs and Hula
Poppers compliments of PRADCO
Division #2 – Fly Fishing, 30#
tippet. Foreign. 49”. Lake
Ratchaburi, Thailand, ASIA.
11/15/2012
Bruce Sederberg
TROUT/Lake
Div. #4 – Ice Fishing,
Pole/line. Longest (only) line
class. 46”. White Otter Lake,
Ontario, Canada. 1/18/2013
Carroll M. Ware
TROUT/Brown, Inland
Div. #2 – Fly Fishing, Foreign.
All Tackle & 6 lb. tippet line
class. 23”. Picacho River, Chile,
SOUTH AMERICA. 2/14/2013
Mike Small
MUSKELLUNGE/Natural
Div. #2 – Fly Fishing. 30#
tippet. 51”. St. Regis River,
New York. 7/17/2012
World Angling Records Granted
2nd QUARTER - 2013 UPDATE
50 lb.
30”
Leonard J.
Kouba
Lake Theerasart,
Thailand, ASIA
11/11/12
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.
Unltd.
26”
Leonard J.
Kouba
Lake Theerasart,
Thailand, ASIA
11/11/12
AllTackle
50”
Leonard J.
Kouba
Lake Ratchaburi,
Thailand, ASIA
11/10/12
50 lb.
50”
Leonard J.
Kouba
Lake Ratchaburi,
Thailand, ASIA
11/10/12
Unltd.
38”
Leonard J.
Kouba
Lake Ratchaburi,
Thailand, ASIA
11/8/12
TROUT/
All
Rainbow (Inland) Tackle
17”
Lila S.
Ware
Lago Capo,
2/13/2013
Chile, SOUTH AMERICA
16 lb.
17”
Lila S.
Ware
Lago Capo,
2/13/2013
Chile, SOUTH AMERICA
NOTICE TO REPRINT
©COPYRIGHT 2013 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.
SORUBIM/
Asian Spotted
“Kept” World Records List
DIVISION #1 – ROD/REEL
Lbs./
Ozs. Angler
Where Caught
69-9 James R.
Black Warrior River,
Bramlett
Alabama, USA
Line
Fish
Class
BASS/
AllStriped (Inland) Tackle
30 lb.
Fish
ROHU
69-9-
James R.
Bramlett
Black Warrior River,
Alabama, USA
DIVISION #1- ROD/REEL - FOREIGN
Lbs./
Ozs. Angler
Where Caught
23-0. Leonard J.
Lake Theerasart,
Kouba
Thailand, ASIA
Line
Class
AllTackle
(only)
Date
2/28/2013
2/28/2013
Date
11/11/2012
DIVISION #2 – FLY FISHING
Fish
BARRAMUNDI
Length Angler
17”
Steve Norris
Where Caught
Date
Nickajack Headwaters, 3/29/2013
Tennessee, USA
BOWFIN
or DOGFISH
Unltd.
34”
Henry
Aponte
Moss Bluff Lake,
Florida, USA
8/24/2012
CRAPPIE/Black
16 lb.
15”
Ed Raymond
Cedar Creek Pond,
Delaware, USA
4/7/2013
Length Angler
51”
Mike
Small
Where Caught
St. Regis River,
New York, USA
Bang Pakong Lake,
Thailand, ASIA
11/19/12
30 lb.
Tippet
31”
Leonard J.
Kouba
Bang Pakong Lake,
Thailand, ASIA
11/19/12
16 lb.
tippet
27”
Leonard J.
Kouba
K.P. Lake,
Thailand, ASIA
11/4/12
25 lb.
tippet
36”
Leonard J.
Kouba
K. P. Lake,
Thailand, ASIA
11/5/12
AllTackle
49”
Leonard J.
Kouba
Lake Ratchaburi,
Thailand, ASIA
11/15/12
16 lb.
tippet
45”
Leonard J.
Kouba
Lake Ratchaburi,
Thailand, ASIA
11/9/12
25 lb.
tippet
47”
Leonard J.
Kouba
Lake Ratchaburi,
Thailand, ASIA
11/7/12
30 lb.
tippet
49”
Leonard J.
Kouba
Lake Ratchaburi,
Thailand, ASIA
11/15/12
40 lb.
tippet
45”
Leonard J.
Kouba
Lake Ratchaburi,
Thailand, ASIA
11/15/12
CATFISH/
Striped
16 lb.
tippet
28”
Leonard J.
Kouba
K. P. Lake,
Thailand, ASIA
11/5/12
GAR/
Alligator
16 lb.
tippet
41”
Leonard J.
Kouba
Lake Ratchaburi,
Thailand, ASIA
11/9/12
25 lb.
tippet
42”
Leonard J.
Kouba
Lake Ratchaburi,
Thailand, ASIA
11/13/12
30 lb.
tippet
38”
Leonard J.
Kouba
Lake Ratchaburi,
Thailand, ASIA
11/13/12
40 lb.
tippet
42”
Leonard J.
Kouba
Lake Ratchaburi,
Thailand, ASIA
11/15/12
All
Tackle
32”
(tie)
Leonard J.
Kouba
Lake Ratchaburi,
Thailand, ASIA
11/10/12
All
Tackle
32”
(tie)
Leonard J.
Kouba
Lake Ratchaburi,
Thailand, ASIA
11/10/12
16 lb.
tippet
23”
Leonard J.
Kouba
Lake Ratchaburi,
Thailand, ASIA
11/10/12
CARP/
Siamese Giant
CATFISH/
Redtail
Date
7/17/2012
DIVISION #4 – ICE FISHING, POLE/LINE
Line
Fish
Class Length Angler
Where Caught
Date
BURBOT (Eelpout/ All40” Jordan
Tobin Lake,
1/31/2013
Lawyer)
Tackle
Geall
Saskatchewan, Canada
(only)
PERCH/
Yellow
Longest
(only)
12”
Steve
Knapp
Lake Onalaska,
Wisconsin, USA
3/16/2013
TROUT/Lake
Longest
(only)
46”
Bruce
Sederberg
White Otter Lake,
Ontario, Canada
1/18/2013
DIVISION #1 – ROD/REEL - FOREIGN
Fish
CARP/
Chinese
Line
Class Length Angler
All22” Leonard J.
Tackle
Kouba
(only)
Where Caught
Lake Theerasart,
Thailand, ASIA
Date
11/11/12
Date
11/9/12
Leonard J.
Kouba
DIVISION #2 – FLY FISHING
Line
Fish
Class
MUSKELLUNGE/ 30 lb.
Natural
Tippet
Where Caught
Lake Ratchaburi,
Thailand, ASIA
28”
DIVISION #1 – ROD/REEL
Line
Class
2 lb.
Length Angler
33” Leonard J.
Kouba
25 lb.
Tippet
“C&R” World Records List
Fish
BASS/Spotted
Line
Class
16 lb.
Tippet
GIANT
SNAKEHEAD
CARP/
30 lb.
Jullien’s Golden
28”
Leonard J.
Kouba
Lake Theerasart,
Thailand, ASIA
11/11/12
CATFISH/
Asian
(Pla Kot Kang)
AllTackle
(only)
45”
Leonard J.
Kouba
Lake Ratchaburi,
Thailand, Asia
11/8/12
CATFISH/
Redtail
50 lb.
48”
Leonard J.
Kouba
Lake Ratchaburi,
Thailand, Asia
11/15/12
Leonard J.
Kouba
Lake Ratchaburi,
Thailand, ASIA
11/8/12
Leonard J.
Kouba
Lake Ratchaburi,
Thailand, ASIA
11/10/12
45”
25 lb.
tippet
27”
Unltd.
40”
Leonard J.
Kouba
Bung Sam Lan Lake,
Thailand, ASIA
11/18/12
Leonard J.
Kouba
Lake Ratchaburi,
Thailand, ASIA
11/15/12
70 lb.
Unltd.
tippet
22”
CATFISH/
Striped
GAR/
Alligator
50 lb.
44”
Leonard J.
Kouba
Lake Ratchaburi,
Thailand, ASIA
11/15/12
SORUBIM/
Asian Spotted
16 lb.
tippet
38”
Leonard J.
Kouba
Lake Ratchaburi,
Thailand, ASIA
11/9/12
Unltd.
42”
Leonard J.
Kouba
Lake Ratchaburi,
Thailand, ASIA
11/9/12
TROUT/
Brown (Inland)
All
Tackle
23”
Carroll M.
Ware
Picacho River,
2/14/2013
Chile, SOUTH AMERICA
GIANT
SNAKEHEAD
AllTackle
(only)
32”
Leonard J.
Kouba
Lake Ratchaburi,
Thailand, ASIA
11/15/12
6 lb.
23”
Carroll M.
Ware
Picacho River,
2/14/2013
Chile, SOUTH AMERICA
PACU,
Morocoto
50 lb.
23”
Leonard J.
Kouba
Lake Ratchaburi,
Thailand, ASIA
11/8/12
TROUT/
All
Rainbow (Inland) Tackle
17”
Lila S.
Ware
Lago Capo,
2/11/2013
Chile, SOUTH AMERICA
ROHU
All
Tackle
30”
Leonard J.
Kouba
Lake Theerasart,
Thailand, ASIA
11/11/12
4 lb.
tippet
16”
Carroll M.
Ware
Lago Capo,
2/13/2013
Chile, SOUTH AMERICA
30 lb.
28”
Leonard J.
Kouba
Lake Theerasart,
Thailand, ASIA
11/11/12
6 lb.
tippet
17”
Lila S.
Ware
Lago Capo,
2/11/2013
Chile, SOUTH AMERICA
PACU/
Morocoto
11
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Fresh Water Fishing
Hall of Fame & Museum
P.O. Box 690
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Phone 715/634-4440
A NON-PROFIT MUSEUM-EDUCATION ORGANIZATION
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and Accomplishment, Official Qualifier and Recorder of World Fresh Water Sportfishing Records,
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