During the early 1970's My dad and I were weekend fishermen on the long island sound out of Smithtown Bay. We would launch our boat out of Kings Park or Long Beach. Always arriving at the ramp before sunrise, my dad, having spent the previous week preparing, was always well organized and prepared with bait, tackle, and a game plan. We would always catch fish. Unfortunately my dad died in 1978 at 52 yrs after a 2 year fight with cancer, I was 15 at the time
The Long Island Fisherman (LIF) was always read by both of us cover to cover. Recently, I happened upon a three ringed binder filled with LIF articles from that time period. There are articles by Zac Grossman, William Muller, Bob Schavel, Doc Grell, Matt Ahern to name a few. They are great reads that my dad felt were worth keeping.
Like his fishing tackle, the articles were organized meticulously. Dividers separated the articles by species.. Blackfish, Bluefish, Porgy, Flounder, Fluke, Weaks, Striped Bass. Another section had articles on terminal tackle and knots. Another section, and in my opinon the most interesting , is a very detailed series on plug building by Jack "The Professor" Frech. After reading the plug building articles and seeing the plug layouts drawn to scale and with cross sections I couldnt help but reflect on those days. I thought you surf guys, who are always posting reports, would enjoy them. He has detailed intructions for the "W-Y" Popper, the Montauk Darter, the Xtra large Montauk Darter, the Banana, the Slider (Skipper), the Diver, the Ballistic, the Beluga, the Jointed Eel, and the Light Weights. He shares his craft with the readers by offering dimensions, the outlines, and cross sections that are actually drawn to scale on the pages of the fisherman.
Back then it was the written word and diagrams that we would wait for anxiously to arrive in the mail or at the local stationary store. Today, through use of the internet-and sites such as this, we have sooo much info available to us, yet few things I have read online compare to the quality of the information provided in these early 70's articles from the LIF. He titled his series "ADDICTIVE DRUGS - Homemade Plugs" Attached in the images is a sample of one of the plugs - the Banana. (I hope it comes out - i may have to shrink it).
After reading the series my Dad had saved, I googled Jack Frech and spent time reading about his accomplishments and contributons to surf fishing. He really was an innovator and not selfish about sharing -alot like many of you guys with your posts. I want to scan and share them all, but I am apprehensive for fear of copyright infringement. I have tried to find a point of contact for the Fisherman to see if I had to get their permission to show this stuff, but I have not gotten replies. So, it is in the good spirit of Jack "the professor Frech, that I offer one of the how to article he authored. Lets see if you get addicted to it - Plug Building.
Regards, Kurt
[email protected]
The Long Island Fisherman (LIF) was always read by both of us cover to cover. Recently, I happened upon a three ringed binder filled with LIF articles from that time period. There are articles by Zac Grossman, William Muller, Bob Schavel, Doc Grell, Matt Ahern to name a few. They are great reads that my dad felt were worth keeping.
Like his fishing tackle, the articles were organized meticulously. Dividers separated the articles by species.. Blackfish, Bluefish, Porgy, Flounder, Fluke, Weaks, Striped Bass. Another section had articles on terminal tackle and knots. Another section, and in my opinon the most interesting , is a very detailed series on plug building by Jack "The Professor" Frech. After reading the plug building articles and seeing the plug layouts drawn to scale and with cross sections I couldnt help but reflect on those days. I thought you surf guys, who are always posting reports, would enjoy them. He has detailed intructions for the "W-Y" Popper, the Montauk Darter, the Xtra large Montauk Darter, the Banana, the Slider (Skipper), the Diver, the Ballistic, the Beluga, the Jointed Eel, and the Light Weights. He shares his craft with the readers by offering dimensions, the outlines, and cross sections that are actually drawn to scale on the pages of the fisherman.
Back then it was the written word and diagrams that we would wait for anxiously to arrive in the mail or at the local stationary store. Today, through use of the internet-and sites such as this, we have sooo much info available to us, yet few things I have read online compare to the quality of the information provided in these early 70's articles from the LIF. He titled his series "ADDICTIVE DRUGS - Homemade Plugs" Attached in the images is a sample of one of the plugs - the Banana. (I hope it comes out - i may have to shrink it).
After reading the series my Dad had saved, I googled Jack Frech and spent time reading about his accomplishments and contributons to surf fishing. He really was an innovator and not selfish about sharing -alot like many of you guys with your posts. I want to scan and share them all, but I am apprehensive for fear of copyright infringement. I have tried to find a point of contact for the Fisherman to see if I had to get their permission to show this stuff, but I have not gotten replies. So, it is in the good spirit of Jack "the professor Frech, that I offer one of the how to article he authored. Lets see if you get addicted to it - Plug Building.
Regards, Kurt
[email protected]
