Awesome Vintage Fishing Tackle Videos and Commercials

Awesome Vintage Fishing Tackle Videos and Commercials

Published May 4, 2011 by Kevin Scarselli
Kevin Scarselli

The other day, fellow BassFishin.Com member (and writer), Garry Thronton shared some absolutely fabulous vintage fishing tackle videos from the the 1950’s and 60’s. Thanks to YouTube, I have made available all of the videos here on one page for everyone’s enjoyment.

The one below is my personal favorite. It features “Garcia Girl” Joan Salvato using some old fishing reels. Just wait till you see what she catches!

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Can you believe she just jumped right in the water with those clothes? She even had on seemingly brand-new white sneakers! I love it!

The best part is when she lands the monster bass and the narrator says, “Tough luck ol’ bass… The Garcia Girl’s got you and you’re headed for home to the supper table!” Then after she lands it, I love how it cuts to her in her kitchen holding a big plate of bass fillets and feeding it to her starving youngsters who proceed to chomp away at the delicious bass meat with big grins on their faces… TAKE THAT PETA!

I guess ol’ Joan isn’t too concerned about alligators there in the swamp? Though from the looks of her, if a big gator did snatch on to her, she’d be able to wrestle it right off no problem. That’s my kind of woman. Sorry guys… there was a ring on her finger.

The next vintage fishing tackle commercial features Johnny Dieckman, supposedly the world champion caster of his day.

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Now that’s a haircut you can set your watch to!

One thing is clear so far, fishermen dressed far more swanky back then than they do now. At least Johnny didn’t jump in the water and mess up his new loafers.

I’m sure Dieckman was good, but I couldn’t imagine trying to be accurate from a sitting position using old fishing reels like the ABU Ambassadeur 5000.

The next video reminds me of a filmstrip that you’d watch in elementary school. But this one is MUCH more awesome. It really makes you see vintage reels and rods in a whole new light.

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I love how the President of Garcia walks around with a pipe in his mouth. You don’t see that anymore!

I know there are some really powerful fishing companies out there, but it seems so odd to think there are guys with black suits and ties sitting around a conference table discussing fishing reels and rods. It’s hilarious!

And check out the vintage fishing reel at 02:43 into the video. Now I wasn’t around at that day in age, but that is one spinning reel design I have never seen before. I have a few guesses as to why it never caught on.

Then in the next video, fresh from the archives, we have a great movie trailer like promo for “The House of Garcia”. You get to see a lot of the behind the scenes at Garcia. Everything from the reel service department, and rod R&D (research and development).

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Take a look at the cool cast he makes at 01:47 in the video. I know a few guys who can do this, but I have never gotten good at it myself.

Check out the bass that Joan landed at about 02:38… do you see what is sticking out of the bass’ stomach? That’s right, it looked like a huge shiner!

For those of you who like antique fishing rods, you will really enjoy this video on the Garcia Conolon fiberglass rod.

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More guys in suits and ties sitting at conference tables… probably brainstorming ways to make rods out of carrots.

For the early 1960’s I’m pretty impressed with how big the production was. No wonder there is a cult-like passion in the vintage fishing tackle enthusiast world.

Here’s another one on world casting champion Johnny Dieckman. This time he is showing off his skills with old spinning reels.

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It’s so odd to see him cast like that. When I want to be accurate, I almost never cast with just one hand. And check out that cool cast of his again at 02:54. I gotta learn how to do that!

Lastly, here is a cool fishing video of an angler expedition at Great Bear Lake.

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I hope you enjoyed these as much as I have. Vintage fishing tackle is fun to look at, especially in the context of a different era in American history. I wonder how many of these old fishing reels are still out there? Perhaps one of you reading this owns some antique tackle.

If you have fishing friends, I’m sure they’d have a blast looking at these vintage videos… so definitely share these fabulous artifacts of fishing’s past!

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