There’s two kinds of sportsmen; them as love the outdoors and practice their craft often, and there’s them as does all that but has too much disposable income, and collects the trappings of bygone days…

If you’ve not formally “come out” as the latter, the clues are obvious; the dirty dishes go in a wicker creel, 1950’s Outdoor Life are stacked in the bathroom, and your door chime is shorebird complete with brass bill.

…and you’re single, or about to be…

Collecting is a curse, as knees and joints start to complain with pre-dawn activity, gear accumulation is an effective surrogate. I find myself showing tendencies and recognize this is “the pot calling the kettle black.”

There’s an interesting blog that caters to the obsession, written by Dr. Todd Larsen, a history professor that writes on the history of angling in the US. He’ll peruse eBay and highlight the wheat from the chaff – typically offering insight into some of the unique items available via auction.

I’ve always admired the old wooden bass plugs – admired because I can’t afford any – but the history of them is as compelling as the articles themselves.

The recent Lang auction of Ernest Schweibert’s gear is covered – with some of the more interesting pieces covered in detail.  You may want to take a glimpse of your future hobby – as you’ll all succumb to one degree or another.

Technorati Tags: angling history, todd larsen, auction, bass plugs