Who hasn’t heard the old adage, “a picture is worth a thousand words”? As a young, impressionable youth just getting into bass fishing in the early 1970s, this held incredibly true when it came to fishing publications that caught my eye. Bright, bold, and colorful artistic renderings of huge bass devouring lures were like magic to my imagination.
Such was the case with the Garcia Fishing Annuals, which produced some exceptionally great cover art over the two decades of their existence. These publications covered the gamut of fishing in both fresh and saltwater, and their covers could sport just about anything that swims. In Garcia Fishing Annuals – The Bass Covers, we will look at those issues that highlighted bass with splendid and inspiring art.
Garcia Fishing Annual-1964
The first issue featuring a color cover of a bass was from 1963. Unfortunately, I don’t have that issue to share. I do have the 1964 issue, though, and what a great cover it is! We have a leaping largemouth, mouth agape, trying to shake the yellow-black spotted inline spinner that fooled him. Not just any inline spinner mind you, but a Garcia Abu-Reflex spinner. This would become a recurring theme in these covers, prominently placing a Garcia branded lure in the maw of, or near an attacking bass.
The bass is placed directly in the foreground and is the focal point as it leaps spraying water in its attempt to escape capture. The happy angler in the background is shown with a bent rod intent on subduing his catch and is sketched with enough generalness that you feel like it could be you enjoying this moment. Interestingly, there was no credit given or mention of who the artist was.
Inside this issue there was one lone article dedicated to bass fishing titled “Hazard Bass” by Ken Botty. Perhaps not a well-known author, the article did describe his angling exploits with legendary bass fisherman Bill Plummer.
Garcia Fishing Annual-1970
There was a six-year hiatus until the next bass themed cover was unveiled, but it was worth the wait. The 1970 edition was graced with one of the best covers ever, again with a leaping bass prominently in the foreground and framed between two flooded trees. This time there were two anglers afloat in the background; one engaged in the fight and one rowing, intent on watching the action play out.
One thing that makes this cover so interesting is the dark, almost ominous background that makes it even more mysterious. Was the action playing out at dusk, or back in the deep recesses of a creek arm littered with inundated wood? Let your imagination decide.
Hung from the bass’s jaw appears to be the Garcia version of the famous Heddon River Runt, the Abu Hi-Lo, in the classic Red Head-White color. Garcia must have been proud of this image as it also graced an edition of “Worming and Plugging For Bass”, written by Homer Circle for their Garcia Sports Library series.
Unlike the cover art from the 1964 edition, the artist of this piece was given full recognition in the opening index. His name was George L. Schelling, and the image was described as including:
“The elements of bass fishing: excitement, action, challenge, and a good fish that makes it come alive.”
As we will see, Mr. Schelling’s artwork would continue to grace these annuals over the next decade.
Inside this edition, there were three bass related articles, “Lake of Mystery and Monster Bass” by Bill O’Connor, “Late Season Largemouths” by Bill Plummer, and “High on the Hog” a pork rind dissertation by past BFA contributor and legendary author, Stan Fagerstrom.
Garcia Fishing Annual-1974
The next bass related cover, and my personal favorite, appeared four years later in 1974. This time forgoing leaping surface bass, it depicted an underwater scene of a lunker about to inhale a Garcia Frog bait, weighted to sink into its lair. Like the 1970 cover, the artist was once again, George L. Schelling.
The color and detail on this artwork were masterful, from the sun dappled back of the bass to the weeds depicting a slight movement of water flow. So enamored of this cover was I, that in a Saturday morning art class I attended as a youth, I made my own rendition of it in pastel swapping out the frog for a yellow coachdog Arbogaster, which had recently hung a 6.5 lb. bass for me. Getting a lot of assistance from the instructor, my version turned out pretty well and still hangs in my man cave today.
This issue included the articles, “Hot Bass Fishin’ in Cold Weather by George L. Marzek and two live bait pieces, “Mighty Mites For Stream Bass” by Jeffrey J. Kraemer and “Mini Monsters Slay Maxi Bass” by Jack Parry.
Garcia Fishing Annual-1977
Three years later, we have yet another cover by George L. Schelling. A vivid underwater scene this time with the addition of two colorful, frisky bluegills vying for the same Garcia Abu Hi-Lo lure that is tempting the hungry bass. Once again, the image displays incredible realism and a lifelike depiction of the underwater world. Hopefully for the imaginary angler above the scene, the lunker largemouth wins the chase to the bait over the pesky bluegills….
Articles in this issue include,” The Desert’s Red Hot Bass Oasis” written by Bob Saile and “Smallmouth on Jigs” by James F. Daubel. There is also the great feature, “Bass Blitz on Tenkiller” written by Pete Czura describing a trip to the Oklahoma reservoir with then Oklahomans, Roland and Mary Ann Martin.
Garcia Fishing Magazine 1979
Two years later, we have the last bass cover and feature for George L. Schelling. The “Annual” was now titled Garcia Fishing Magazine but kept the same format as previous annuals. I’m unsure of how long these new “magazine” issues lasted but I have never seen one after this 1979 version. Perhaps this was the lone issue.
The cover was the first to split the image both above and below the water with dramatic results. The turtle above the waterline appears to be peering down at the action as a bass mistakes an unidentified squarebill for an easy meal. All the Schelling hallmarks are apparent with the abundant use of green and blue coloration, the great use of light and shade, and the almost gauzy look of underwater features that help depict the liquid landscape with great realism.
This issue included a quartet of bass related articles, “Bugs About Smallmouths” by Joel S. Fawcett, “Tennessee Fly ’n Rind Takes Mr. Smalljaws” by Don Jordan, “Trophy Bass” by Charles Dickey and “Bass In The Brush”, by Alain Wood-Prince.
George Luther Schelling
Not only did Schelling do all the bass covers for the Garcia Annuals of the 1970s, his worked graced all the covers of this decade including a variety of other freshwater and saltwater fish. Here is a brief bio from the internet site, epix.net:
“George started his professional career in the mid-fifties illustrating for advertising agencies in New Jersey. During his early twenties he created covers and story illustrations for the science fiction magazines. By 1963 his wildlife paintings were being exhibited by Abercrombie and Fitch and other galleries that specialized in wildlife art in New York City. One of George’s interests was in painting the moods of underwater with the aquatic creatures. They were extremely popular themes with the gallery clients and soon he developed a reputation as a painter of marine life. He didn’t mind this new reputation and soon major magazine publishers such as Outdoor Life and Audubon spotted his work, and he began doing commissions for them. This expanded his career to calendar, print publishing and editorial work plus shows in galleries. George’s subject matter ranges from hunting and fishing scenes, wildlife, rural settings, seascapes, old buildings and whatever else he imagines or finds interesting.”
While I am neither an art historian nor an art critic, George’s work to me seems like a bridge from an earlier era of a more whimsical, folksy and caricature style fishing art to a greater degree of detail and realism. This style would later carry on with the outstanding work of both Larry Tople and Al Agnew whose fishing artwork approached almost photographic like realism.
Final Thoughts
The Garcia Fishing Annuals of the sixties and seventies were well polished and quality fishing publications that contained a variety of fishing-related articles from some of the best writers of the era, while also touting all of Garcia’s products for that year.
As we have seen, they also sported some amazing artwork on their covers. There is a company that makes and sells 8” by 12” tin reproduction signs of some of the more popular covers. Available on eBay, they make great wall art for your man cave or fishing room. I have two depicting my favorite covers, hung in my office.
Perusing some of these issues for the preparation of this piece, brought back many happy memories of when these annuals, along with their inspiring artwork, created the passion for bass fishing in my young mind and soul. I hope this post did the same for many of you.
To read more of Mike’s work, please click on this link.
Absolutely wonderful piece documenting these beautiful covers. I’ve always been very attracted to the Schelling cover art of these magazines. There’s something about his gritty painting that captures a realism that many others don’t achieve. For me, his art achieves a level above and beyond the usual wildlife art. His manner of depicting water and the underwater world is, to me, on a level similar to the way Vermeer mastered light. Great article, Mike. And your reproduction of Schelling’s cover is pretty awesome too!
Thank you for your kind and insightful comments, David. Your art credentials certainly give extra credence to your remarks. Schelling’s work on all these covers was masterful and continues to impress and inspire me many years after I was first exposed to it.
Hello,
Do you know how many Garcia fishing annuals there are? I’ve got five so far.
Jack, I believe they started in 1960 and ran until 1979. My collection includes 1960, 1962, 1963, 1965-1979. I also have a catalog I can’t date because there is no copyright date in it. My guess is it’s either from 1959 or 1961, with 1961 being my best guess. They’re great catalogs to collect as they have so much information in them, plus the articles by their writers. Have fun collecting them and if you ever run across a 1964 issue, let me know!!!
Hello Jack. Thank you for your inquiry. To the best of my knowledge, Garcia started the “Garcia Fishing Annual” in 1960 (it was titled Garcia Fishing Tackle and Annual Catalog in 1960) and continued publication annually under “Garcia Fishing Annual” until it became the “Fishing Annual” in 1978 and then ceased publication in 1979.
There are numerous issues that circulate for purchase on Ebay if you would like to expand your collection.