AS SEEN IN THE FISHERMAN MAGAZINE NEW ENGLAND EDITION

 february 17, 2010 -  ISSUE 8

NORTH SHORE TO MAINE REPORT

By: Capt. Greg Metcalf

 

Back during the 1940’s there was an avid striped bass fisherman from Massachusetts, who knew every eddy, nook and cranny of the Cape Cod Canal. His name was Bob Pond.   Most rod and reel fishermen back then fished with either live or dead bait to catch stripers.  One day Bob found an old beat up wooden plug along the shore of the canal where he once spied other fishermen catching fish after fish.  He scooped up the lure and brought it home where he cleaned it up, repainted it and on put a set of fresh new treble hooks.  The next day he went to one of his favorite striper haunts and threw a few casts with this metal lipped wooden plug. It turned out to be a deadly weapon, and Bob caught dozens of fish that first day.

That was all Bob needed.  The next day he went out and purchased a wood lathe, made a few changes in the lures shape, modified the metal lip and spent the winter of 1944 building 400 plugs that turned out to be the first run of the Atom 40.

He sold out his inventory instantly and before he knew it, Bob was in the lure business.

During the summer of 1945, World War II was in its final stages and President Truman made the decision to drop the bomb on Hiroshima.  With the Atom bomb so much in the news and everyone talking about the Atom, Bob thought it would be a great name for his new company, and that his how Atom Lures got its name.

For the next 50 years Bob grew his company changing his production method from wood to plastic and making the Atom brand a product that every angler on the east coast had in their tackle box. 

Additionally Bob used much of the profits from his lure business to help fund Striper Unlimited, a non profit organization Bob founded to do research on striped bass migratory habits and mortality rates.  Bob Pond was an icon in the fishing tackle industry and a true conservationist who championed many of the regulations that helped stop the total demise of the striped bass populations before it was too late.

In 1998 my former business partner and I had the privilege of acquiring Atom Lures and being stewards of the fine Atom brand.  In 2007 Atom Lures was sold to Uncle Josh Bait Company who is now continuing the great Atom tradition.

I just learned of Bob’s passing this week.   He died on December 26^, 2009, and his wife, devoted companion and caregiver Avis Boyd passed away three days later.

The world and the fishing community have lost a great man who will be will be greatly missed.

Every time I cast an Atom plug into the sea, and a hungry striper or bluefish rises up from the deep to inhale the plastic imposter, I will think of Bob, his contagious smile and how lucky I was to have known him.  He was blessed to be able to live a life doing what he loved, with the woman he loved.  We should all be so lucky.  May you rest in peace Bob and Avis. Your contributions to fishermen everywhere will never be forgotten.

 

 

 

 

 

 

EVERETT, MA

Pete from Fishing Fanatics reported that the fishing in the Galapagos Islands is still fantastic and getting better everyday.  Email Pete at petsantini@yahoo.com is you are interested in a South American fishing adventure.

Pete’s friend Mike, from Boston and his seven year old son traveled to the Galapagos to fish aboard Sea Hands.  They couldn’t get the fourth line in the water before all three outriggers snapped and they had triple of striped marlin. They quit fishing at noon that day because the anglers and the crew’s armed ached from reeling in fish to the point where they just couldn’t reel anymore

Back home in New England the cold weather has made the ice conditions good for the hard water fishing fanatics.  A few good spots that were giving up fish through the ice were Pleasant Pond in Wrentham, Forest Lake in Methuen, and Sulice Pond in Lynn.

Pickerel and bass fishing has been very good on upper Mystic Lake in Winchester.

 

 

 

GLOUCESTER, MA
Captain Greg from Yankee Capts told me there was not much to report this week. He lost the last two weekends due to the weather.

When they did get out however, the catching was excellent. Muttons, red and yellowtails are the main catch and limits for everyone. Captain Greg is looking forward to the next week as the winds are going to let up.

Yankee Capts are booking for the Gloucester cod season. All trips are available online at www.yankeecapts.com

 

Captain Kevin of Kayman Charters reported that commercial cod fishing is excellent with most boats returning in a couple of hours. The fish are so thick even the rod and reel boats have been limiting out with lock and load conditions. This is definitely a sign of a healthy fishery and ecosystem as the fish are well feed on eels and herring.

Six Passenger cod trips start on April 15th this year. Haddock is open all year and those trips will start in March. With the shortened spring cod season Captain Kevin’s books are filling up quickly.

 

 

Captain Kevin will be at the Big E this week make sure to stop by and get a few Kayman Goodies. He will have a newsletter going out with specials and coupons. Sign up today at www.kaymancharters.com

 

PLUM ISLAND, MA

Kay from Surfland is opened on weekends only for the month of February.  Store hours are Saturday and Sunday from 8 to 3.  The Parker River is giving up a few smelts.  Most of Kay’s serious smelt fishermen have been traveling up to the smelt camps in Bowdoinham, Maine. 

 

SACO, ME

Craig from Saco Bay Tackle told me that things were hopping at the shop this weekend as anglers loaded up on ice fishing bait and tackle for the Ossipee lake Tournament on Sunday February14th. The weather looks excellent, and it's also a free fishing day here in Maine. Craig will post the winners in next week's report. Good luck to all ice fishermen.

The Smelt camps are still open and very busy, especially this coming week due to school winter vacation. It is a good idea to call ahead and reserve a shack. The anglers Craig spoke with the past few days said the action has picked up quite a bit and fishing is red hot

Fisherman are starting to get cabin fever and making their way to the shop for new reading material, rod and reel repairs and spring check lists. Now is a great time to bring in your rods and reels for servicing before the crazy rush. Craig said they still have a few seats open for their Tuna Rigging Class Monday February 15^th from 5 to 7.  The cost is $100.00 and they will be building Bird Bars. This is a great class for angler's that fish for both school and giant tuna. You get to keep the rig you build. If you would like to sign up or have questions regarding the class please email the store at sacobaytackle@maine.rr.com or call

 (207) 284-4453.

 

 

 

 

Capt.Greg Metcalf
P.O. Box 813, Kennebunkport, Maine 04046
(401) 617 9265
greg@captaingregmetcalf.com