Merry Christmas

December 1947 Outdoors Fishing Christmas Cover .

 What more could a young boy want for Christmas. I love the old plugs used as tree ornaments. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas. Hope you all find a nice plug under the tree.

Baby Lucky 13 2 piece cardboard research box

Another of these generic  Heddon research lure boxes turns up.  Collector Steve Clegg  said this example originally came out of the stock of an old Sporting Goods Store.

Photo courtesy of Steve Clegg



Heddon Research two piece cardboard box

Photo courtesy of  collector Don Grimm

The best thing about  collecting & studying old fishing tackle is that there is always something new to learn. This past March , I did a write up about Heddon's  Research bait program.  At that time,  I had not seen a two piece Heddon  cardboard box marked research.
I just recently  learned of this example of a  generic  Heddon Sonar Research  marked box. I'd love to hear of any other 2 piece cardboard research marked lure boxes or history of the plain box.To see more about Heddon research baits check out my March post on the subject. Thanks, Don for sharing this unusual box.

Abbie & Imbrie Gold Rod & Reel

What a great old fishing tackle exhibit. In one stop you could see the Famous Abbey & Imbrie Gold presentation Rod & Reel, join the Pittsburg Casting Club and the Izaak Walton League.

Vintage Fishing Tackle room

This is the Fishing room of  Husband and Wife - Ralph and Cleo Lytaker Circa 1940. I love everything in this great old image. Cleo  holds up her favorite wooden plug, which appears to be a Rush Tango Junior, while Ralph works on tying a fly mounted is his vise.  Cleo's  wood tackle box is practically overflowing with old wooden baits. I even see a Creek Chub Weed Bug in there. A second closed tackle box rests at her feet and a jumbo size creel can not be missed.    
  Ralph Lytaker was known as one of  Washington's greatest flycasters. Ralph was a 3 time national  fly casting champ. Chicago ,1933 National dry fly accuracy, Milwaukee, 1935 dry fly distance event and 1936 Portland, all around open fly. He was the featured fly caster at the first Seattle Times sports show. Mr Lytaker was among a group of Seattle anglers who first popularized winter Steelhead fishing.  Ralph and Cleo were both well known Seattle anglers.

Twin Casters

Fifteen Year old  Crusey Twins from Sidney Ohio. Elmer Crusey Jr.  National Jr. Champion 5/8 Oz. and Sister Aunalee  National Jr. Champion 3/8 Oz. This photo shows the pair prepping for the 1941 Great Lakes amateur casting tournament at Lincoln Park Casting Club. Elmer proudly wearing his Casting Jacket adorned with his casting medals and patches including one for the All American Bait Casting Team. Sister Aunalee  who is also wearing her casting medals looks on as Elmer ties on his casting weight plug.   The twins were active casters for years. For a time Aunalee toured the US and Canada putting on casting exhibitions. She even appeared in a 1949 RayBan Sunglasses print ad.The ad listed her as Champion exhibition Fly and Bait Caster.