ONE CAST .... ONE FISH !: STRINGERS ...

We are now in the age of "Catch & Release" and a good old' fish stringer is pretty much a thing of the past. However, there was a time that no angler worth his weight would venture out without one. Research tells me that patents were granted for stringers as early as 1907 and probably even before that but I did not dig to deep into it's history. A stringer was used as a way to keep fish alive, display them for the all important photograph and of course carry your catch home. In 1984 this stringer of Largemouth Bass and Crappies made on heck of a photo! This stringer was a rope type.

Stringers can still be purchased where ever fishing tackle is sold. You will find them made from metal like this...

Or even a length of nylon rope with a metal loop at one end and a large strong needle on the other as pictured here ....

Also there is a wire basket that serves well and collapses for easy storage when not in use. Just drop 'em in the spring loaded lid and they are secure and safe from predators ...

Way back in my youth we improvised by using a small tree branch. Broken off so that it formed a "V"shape with one side of the "V" shorter than the other. We would insert the longer end through the gill and out their mouth and slide them down toward the shorter end for easy transport.

Maybe I should patent that idea!

Here, again back in the mid 80's a heavy stringer of Striped Bass was a real show stopper! Here they are displayed on the more common metal stringer with individual snap hooks.

In the spring I do make use of a stringer when the Yellow Perch or Crappies are biting and a fish dinner is on my menu. Another time you will see stingers in use will be the first day of trout season. Anglers will have them attached to their belts hanging heavy with their catch while they wade up and down the stream.

Some night fishing in Canada, back in the mid-eighties, yielded a few nice Walleye for a tasty meal ! Again shown for the important picture with a metal stringer.