Returning to the popular old outdoor newspaper column of the 1930s, “America Out-of-Doors,” today we look at a little gem from famous fishing author O.W. Smith (Onnie Warren Smith). Smith’s piece is titled, simply, “The Bait-Casting Rod.” It’s a fine, and extremely brief piece of writing that no doubt would have appealed to anglers looking for quick, easy to remember, and no frills advice on the topic. Granted, the choices of baitcasting rod styles in 1937 was nowhere near what it is today, and Smith sings the praises of the 2-piece steel rod and the split bamboo rod. My ears also always perk up when I read about the old solid wood rods, made from materials like South American greenheart and native hickory, which Smith mentions. I’ve always wanted to try one of those antique hardwood rods.
Smith keeps it concise and simple when he writes, “My directions are easy to remember, 5½ feet long, and 5½ ounces. A caster should be stiff, but not too stiff, neither should it be whippy.” And he leaves it up to the individual to decide what level of stiffness is appropriate. I like this short piece for it’s brevity, and concise and confident approach. Smith writes with the assurance and no-nonsense attitude he displayed in his 1920 book, Casting Tackle and Methods, my review of which you can read by clicking here. These short America Out-of-Doors columns are a treasure, spotlighting well-known angling authors of the period. I’ll try to share them with Bass Fishing Archives readers every so often. Below is the entire column, broken up into two easy-to-read images. Enjoy, and have a great weekend.
