Ten innovations that elevated fishing

July 24, 2008 3:43 am

THE SPORTFISHING industry convenes each July for the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST) show. New products debut, business relationships renew and the state of the industry is assessed.

The industry also celebrates the incredible history of fishing. One superb idea this year was a top-10 list of the most influential products that transformed how people fish. The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (rbff.org) and the American Sportfishing Association (asafishing.org) announced the Anglers' Legacy Innovations Awards at the show last week.

The organizations surveyed thousands of Anglers' Legacy Ambassadors who chose these as the products they considered the most instrumental over the past 75 years:

Original Floater Minnow (1936), still one of the most successful and widely copied hard lures in history. Original and current manufacturer: Rapala.

Spring-loaded Bobber (1947) made suspending a baited hook at a desired depth simpler and easier. An item still in almost every angler's tackle box. Original manufacturer: Nibble Nabber; Current manufacturer: Various companies.

Mitchell 300 (1949) was the first commercially successful spinning reel and remains one of the most commonly used. Original manufacturer: Mitchell; Current manufacturer: Pure Fishing.

Creme Plastic Worm (1949) changed the sport forever as the first (and still famous) long-lasting artificial worm that both looked and felt real. Original and current manufacturer: Creme Lure Company.

Closed-Face Spincast Reel (1949) made fishing easy and affordable to everyone regardless of age, size, gender and expertise. Original manufacturer: Zero Hour Bomb Company; Current Manufacturer: ZEBCO.

Lowrance Fish Lo-K-Tor (1957). The "Little Green Box" introduced anglers to using sonar in locating individual fish. Original manufacturer: Lowrance Electronics; Current manufacturer: Lowrance/Navico.

Monofilament Line (1958) improved the durability, affordability and casting ability of fishing line while reducing its visibility to fish. Original manufacturer: DuPont Stren; Current manufacturer: Pure Fishing.

Minn Kota Trolling Motor (1958) was the first electric, gear-driven trolling motor. It allowed anglers to quietly maneuver and position their boats. Original manufacturer: Minn Kota; Current manufacturer: Johnson Outdoors.

Fenwick High-Modulus Graphite Rod (1972) with its super-sensitive carbon (graphite) fibers, revolutionized fishing rods. Original manufacturer: Fenwick; Current manufacturer: Pure Fishing.

Shakespeare Ugly Stick (1976) with its special construction, created an affordable, unbreakable and dynamic rod still used today. Original and current manufacturer: Shakespeare.

What do you think? Did the survey respondents get it right? Are there other products that you think revolutionized the way people fish? Send us an e-mail at
Email: outdoors@freelancestar.com with the product and why you think it should've been noted.

Kids Fishing Derby Winners

Linda Bailey of Fredericksburg Parks and Recreation reports that Luke Sidle, 9, was the Grand Champion at Saturday's annual Kids Fishing Derby at Motts Run Reservoir. Luke caught 7 pounds, 3 ounces of fish.

Other winners and top finishers included: Mikey Mitchen, Zach Treehan, Jeremy Gassler, Kearsten Harris, Morgan Penaranda, Caleb Peterson, Nathan Davis, Aidan McCullum, Aidan Conway, Ian Skjoldal, Justin Smith, Jessica Conway, Andrew McCullum, Zahrya Bush, Aaron Johnson, Emily Ochsenknecht, Daniel Egan, Meagan Forsht, Zoe Bush, Hope Penna, Nicole Ochsenknecht, David Coates, Alex Rhoades, Ryan Smith, John Cole, Samantha Brown, Jonathan Stearlings and Drew Madden.

Bailey thanked the Weekend Bassers fishing club and the Motts Run Reservoir crew of Don Minor and Don Wornstaff.

Fuel Prices Impact Trout Stocking

Last week, we wrote about how the high cost of fuel was hammering the offshore charter sportfishing business and referenced a trip to Bud 'N Mary's Marina in Islamorada. Two days later, NBC Nightly News ran a similar piece, quoting Richard Stanczyk, Bud 'N Mary's owner.

The night before last week's column ran, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries announced that, beginning this week, trout stocking at its daily trout Fishing Fee Areas at Crooked Creek in Carroll County and Big Tumbling on Clinch Mountain in Washington County is being reduced from six times per week to three. The reason: rising fuel prices.

Trout had been stocked daily, Monday to Saturday, at each of the streams. The change doesn't mean fewer fish, though, according to VDGIF.

"Each stocking will get twice the number of fish normally stocked each day, so the number of trout stocked per week will not change," said Assistant Fisheries Division director Ron Southwick. "This will cut our fuel costs in half, without affecting the number of fish stocked."

Trout will be stocked on Monday and Wednesday mornings, and either Friday evening or Saturday morning for the weekend visitors.

The DGIF is trying to mitigate its rising operating costs without increasing license fees.

I think people are finished with griping about the cost of fuel. They want something done, and the chorus is rising.

Ken Perrotte can be reached at The Free Lance-Star, 616 Amelia Street, Fredericksburg, Va. 22401, by fax at 373-8455 or e-mail at
Email: outdoors@freelancestar.com.