While you likely won’t recognize the person in today’s historical photo, he was responsible for the information in a 1950 booklet on fishing for bass using pork frogs, aptly titled, “Pork Chunk Fishing.” It was one of a series of booklets put out by Netcraft Co., and is actually a very fun and informative read, not to mention a cool book for the collector. The cover states, “Tells how we caught over 6000 bass in 20 years of pork chunkin’.”
According to Wikimapia, “In the late 1920s, Royce R. Mallory joined the Edinboro faculty as an instructor of English literature. Students throughout the following several decades owe Professor Mallory considerable appreciation not only for his knowledge, but for his personal guidance. He retired in 1959 after 31 years of service to Edinboro. In the fall of 1966, a five-acre lake was constructed and named in his honor.”
Royce actually did most of his “pork chunkin’” in 245-acre Edinboro Lake, which the town and campus borders on a majority of sides. The lake contains largemouth and smallmouth bass, muskie, pan fish and walleye.
We featured his book in the post, “Pork: The Forgotten Bait – Part One,” back in April 2022. It’s a great read on an old, nearly forgotten bait that threatens to make a comeback every now and then.
Excuse me if I have told this story before. In the early 1960’s my neighbor Andy (born in 1913) asked me one day if I would like to go, “pork chunking” for bass. I of course said yes, not really sure what all would be involved. We met well before daylight and drove to a fairly new 9 acre lake that had rip rap around the shore. Being the student, it was my job to row. In the thick, early morning fog, we moved along the shore. Andy brought out his hollow steel Heddon rod, and some Heddon-Stanley weedless hooks as well as a jar of Uncle Josh Pork Chunks. (pear-shaped, thick white pieces of preserved pork that are no longer made) and rigged up his Pflueger Supreme reel. He would gently cast that pork chuck within a foot or so of the bank. What followed is a scene I will never forget and feel privileged to have witnessed. On almost every cast, two to four Bass would come rushing to the bait. Strong competition followed as to who would end up with the prize. The mad free-for-all of charging Bass remains fresh in my memory these 60 years later.
Bill I don’t remember you ever telling that story. I wish I was old enough to have thrown the chunk. It sounds like it was very effective from all the stories I’ve read about it.
Just looked on eBay for this booklet. There were three copies being sold, but my goodness they are pricey. Wonderful article, Brian. I also love Bill’s story in the comments above.
David send me your address and I will send you a copy. I pick them up at antique tackle shows regularly for $5. By the way, I tried to sign up for your website, but stopped when I got to” password”. I’ll be 81 next week. The last thing I need is to try and remember another password–LOL.