“There have been caught in Walden, pickerel, one weighing seven pounds, to say nothing
of another which carried off a reel with great velocity…” -page 126
Fishing Equipment
The first half the nineteenth century marked dramatic transformation in fishing.
There were immense changes in rod design, the use of the reel, and the types of bait
available. As such, the fishing industry grew as various niches within it began to be
explored in greater depth.
Changes in rod design were a natural effect of fishing specialization. As
fishermen began to observe specific needs for different fish species, the industry
responded adequately by producing different length rods made out of a variety of
materials. Although early nineteenth century rods were similar to previous designs, the
best being made out of ash, hickory and lancewood, stable jointed rod designs began to
emerge in the later half of the century. The quest continued throughout the 1800s until it
was possible to produce strong, thin-walled suction joints on the rod. The
commercialization of rod production during this time had an effect on the size of the rods
as well: trout rods were made shorter in length, while salmon rods remained between
seventeen and eighteen feet long.
Also during this time, a separate type of reel developed in America. In the early
1800s, most Americans were still importing reels from Europe or making crude, wooden
versions themselves. However, as the fishing industry began to proliferate, the reel
became much more standardized and a separate, American reel emerged different from
others produced by the rest of the world. The early American reel industry began with a
focus on the production of single-action brass or silver reels with curved wooden handles.
But, as the need for a multiple-action reel developed, a new design, the Kentucky reel,
became the most
sought after. The
Kentucky reel can
be distinguished
from European reel
designs by its ability
to cast a line
directly from the
spool, and its
subsequent
alterations that led
to a balanced crank
handle and a freespool mechanism.
This served to
increase the
likelihood that a fisherman would catch a fish, as it allowed him to better control the rod
he used and decreased the amount of time spent fishing with a less masterful device.
Bait during this time also underwent transformation as it became more
complicated in design due to the publication of a variety of books on synthetic flies in the
early 1800s and the mass production of fishing line. It was during this century that flies
and bait became standardized; certain patterns became recognizable and only a few of
these patterns were used in production. The new types of flies featured bright colors and
designs, and were made of a more durable material that helped decrease the chance of
rotting in the water. The new bait paralleled the change in fishing line, as silkworm gut
casts began to replace traditional horsehair fishing line, dually revolutionizing the amount
of fish that could be caught with one line and the casting distance obtained with a single
throw.
In Walden, although Thoreau fishes using the standard rod and reel design of the
1800s, he does not use synthetic bait or flies. Rather, he utilizes worms and bugs in order
to lure smaller fish, which he in turn uses as bait for the larger fish available. Walden
Pond is home to a variety of fish, specifically the Bluegill, Brown Bullhead, Chain
Pickerel, Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass, and Northern Pike. These
fish are easily caught by fly fishing in the warmer months, aided by the stronger fishing
line developed during this century, and can be caught from either the shore or in a boat.
However, relative fishing success can be determined by the time of day one fishes at
Walden Pond. As many of these fish species are early morning and/or late evening eaters,
Thoreau would have experienced the best success with fishing at dawn or dusk.
-Becky Byler
Works Cited
Herd,
Andrew.
“Fly
Fishing
History:
Fly
Fishing
in
the
Years
1800
–
1850.”
A
Fly
Fishing
History.
Oct.
18,
2009.
<http://www.flyfishinghistory.com/18001850.htm>.
Land
Big
Fish.
“Walden
Pond
of
Massachusetts.”
Fishing
Resources.
Oct.
18,
2009.
<http://www.landbigfish.com/fishingspots/showcase.cfm?ID=1907>.
The
Weather
Channel.
"Walden
Pond
Fishing
Reports
and
Fishing
Forecasts."
Fishing
Forcast.
Oct.
21,
2009.
<http://www.weather.com/outlook/recreation/outdoors/fishing/11027:21?dayPa
ram=2>.
White, Phil. “Reel Types.” Old Reels. Nov. 18, 2009.
<http://www.oldreels.com/reeltypes.htm>.