Wolverine Rancher Flag Work Boot
I got a new pair of boots, and they kick butt!
I recently got a new pair of stylish Wolverine Rancher Flag Work Boots, and after wearing them for a few weeks I thought I’d share my thoughts with you. Actually the full name of the boot is Rancher Flag Steel-Toe Wellington Work Boot, in case you’re interested in looking for this boot on the company website.
If we just look at the general footwear produced by Wolverine, the quality is consistently good. The customer reviews are good to excellent overall, although there are a few negative reviews thrown in. When considering boots or shoes for purchase I find it helpful to look closely at the negative reviews, as often those are detailed and precise in their criticisms. The Rancher Flag Work Boot is a new entry into the Wolverine line, so there is only one review (according to a company agent I spoke with online) at the time of this writing, a 5-star review in terms of comfort and durability.
Just evaluating the boots I have, I will say that on the plus side it is a darn sharp-looking boot. The top of the boot has a sweet exposed American flag design peeking through decoratively stitched leather. I actually hated to pull my pants over the top of the boot, hiding the design. Truth be told, I felt a little more patriotic wearing these boots.
As for comfort, they were easy to pull on and easy to take off, and the fit was comfortable and easy on my feet. I have a tendency toward gout, and I have to deal with some degree of it on a fairly regular basis. The first day I wore the Rancher Flag boot I was a little concerned, because I had a tinge of gout in my left foot. New boots equal stiffness equals greater discomfort with gout. But surprise, I felt no additional discomfort and actually found putting them on and walking in them to be a pleasant experience.
Checking out the construction I was pleased as well. They appear to be well-made and solidly put together throughout, although I’ll have to wear them for a few months to honestly determine how durable they are. But I love the feel of them, and I especially love the look. The tan leather, light decorative stitching, and Old Glory showing on the front and back shafts is just plain gorgeous. I’ll likely consider these to be more a pair of dress boots than work boots, at least until they get beat up from use.
On the negative side, they're made in China. Unfortunately, all Wolverine footwear, with the exception of their famous 1000 Mile Boot, is no longer made in America. It would be fantastic, and appropriate, if the Rancher Flag Boot was American-made, but that seems to be the way of the world today. I guess I might take some small measure of comfort in knowing that workers in China are putting together an American boot that displays an American flag. But you and I know that they couldn’t care less! lol. I know I’d feel a little more proud about wearing them if they were made in America.
In any event, the boots have so far been a pleasure to wear. They’re also steel-toe, which doesn’t matter much to me as my days of factory work are behind me. But I reckon that’s a good feature to have for keeping the boot in shape. They also feature waterproof leather, and boast a rubber cup outsole and slip resistance for better traction. Good features that I hope to appreciate come winter and icy conditions.
Overall rating: 5 out of 5 stars for appearance and comfort. The jury is still out on durability, but I’m thinking they’ll do well in that area too. 1 star out of 5 for being made in China, and the one star is because of the price. The Rancher Flag Work Boot costs $115, which is a pretty darn good price for good-looking leather boots these days. I wonder how much they’d cost if they were made in the U.S. They are an eye-catching boot that I’m happy to recommend to anyone looking for a comfortable, stylish Wellington boot.
CANADIAN WIGGLER, SINCE 1945
This is the first article I wrote for Bass Fishing Archives, published back on August 21, 2022. I’m going to reprint all of the stories I’ve written for BFA here, chronologically, as a back-up archive. I’d ask you to go the the BFA site to read the original, just because we could use the page views on the site.
Here’s the link: https://bass-archives.com/canadian-wiggler-since-1945/
Lundquist Bros. Bait Company Canadian Wiggler Brochure. Date unknown. Photo David Smith.
While the bass fishing world fell in love with the Rapala minnow lure, courtesy Laurie Rapala, another Finnish bait designer was making his mark at around the same time. Walter Lindquist Sr. emigrated from Helsinki, Finland to Canada and began developing a bait to match the pride he felt for his new country. What he came up with was the Canadian Wiggler, since 1945 a lure that has stood the test of time and has brought an impossible number of largemouth and smallmouth bass – and a heckuva lot of other species – to the landing net.
My interest in the Canadian Wiggler was rekindled after my father passed away and I was rummaging through his old tackle boxes. They contained a few Canadian Wigglers, and I recalled how my Dad would use them when fishing for Lake Michigan salmon and trout and then again for smallmouth bass on northern Wisconsin lakes and rivers. So, I did a quick online search and discovered that the company, Lindquist Bros. Bait Company, was still in business!
It seemed odd to me that this curved, diving plug wasn’t more widely known or discussed in bass fishing circles outside of the Midwest and Canada. After all, it had an enviable track record and was highly effective at catching just about everything from bass to pike to walleye to salmon.
Lundquist Bros. Bait Company Canadian Wiggler Brochure 1970. Photo David Smith.
Lundquist Bros. Bait Company Canadian Wiggler Brochure. Date unknown. Photo David Smith.
The Canadian Wiggler is a lure that can be found in the tackle boxes of just about every traditional bass and walleye angler (read “old timer”) in the north country. Somewhat reminiscent of a cross between a bulbous Lazy Ike and a curved Bass-Oreno, the Wiggler is also unique in that it’s not made from carved wood or plastic. Lindquist Sr. worked at the Ford Motor Company in Windsor, Ontario, and he put his mechanical skills to good use by developing a lure made entirely from hollowed brass.
Obsessed with crafting a one-of-a-kind fish-catching bait, Lindquist spent countless hours in his basement workshop perfecting his lure. Once he had developed an effective bait and saw that it caught fish, he went into business in the mid-1940s with his younger brother Arnold, and his sons, which included Walter Lindquist Jr.
I emailed the company and ordered a number of Canadian Wigglers and struck up a dialogue with the current President, Walter W. Lindquist, the grandson of Walter Lindquist Sr. Walter told me that it was a little confusing and comical when he worked at the company as a young man and someone would call asking to “speak with Walter” and his grandfather and father, Walter Lindquist Jr., were still alive and working at the company.
Lundquist Bros. Bait Company Canadian Wiggler Brochure. Date unknown. Photo David Smith.
Old Canadian Wiggler postcard and patch. Photo David Smith.
Now under the ownership of Walter and his sister Julie, Lindquist Bros. Bait Company has been a part of Canadian and American Heritage for around 73 years, producing Legacy Brand products. The Canadian Wiggler is the world’s only hollow brass fishing lure. It’s also a heckuva bass catching bait.
Since I received my order, I’ve taken them out on the water with me several times and have had good success hooking a number of largemouth. I haven’t yet had the opportunity to try them on smallmouth, as I remember my Dad fishing with them, but doubtless they’re just as effective for smallies as they’ve always been. Given that smallmouth bass are more prevalent in Canada and the Midwest of the United States it makes sense that the Canadian Wiggler would become more widely known as an effective lure for smallies. The company offers a lot of different color combinations, but I’ve had especially good luck throwing the Wiggler in the traditional red head/white body pattern.
Walter told me that during production, the hollow brass lure goes through three primary steps: a blank & form process, followed by trimming, and finally a curling process. Then the eyelets are welded in place and seams welded shut. I noticed that the lures I received had weight attached to the center of their front treble hook. I asked Walter about it. “The newer versions go through an injection mold process,” he replied, “and that weighted treble hook on the belly is there to enhance the lure’s swimming action.” Each lure is hand painted and tank tested to ensure that its action is consistent and that it runs true and tracks straight. That’s a lot of production steps and quality control, something you’d expect from a long-standing company with a rich history.
Company ads and literature declare that the Canadian Wiggler catches just about every species of fish that swims, and I have no doubt that’s true. But in the history of their advertising, they gave special notice to bass fishing, with graphics that highlighted our favorite bucket-mouth fish. Catalog covers from the late 1960s and early 1970s show renderings of leaping bass with Canadian Wigglers firmly hooked in their jaws or bass about to hit a passing Wiggler. This was probably just good marketing as it coincided with the rising popularity of bass fishing tournaments in America.
David Smith and his Canadian Wiggler rigged to a D.A.M. Quick 311 spinning reel.
Walter concluded, “I guess over the years, our lures have truly withstood the test of time. It’s all about producing a quality fish-catching lure, with proven success, from the early days to today and beyond.”
Canadian Wigglers are sold in a variety of sizes and weights, and the company has worldwide sales. Like I alluded to earlier, it’s curious to me that the Canadian Wiggler, a lure that’s been on the market for more than 70 years, may be one of bass fishing’s best kept secrets.
Historic Outdoor People: Bud Lilly, Fly Fishing Icon and a "Trout's Best Friend"
Bud Lilly was a fly fishing legend, but he was equally famous as a tireless conservationist and political activist for wild trout.
Arnold Gingrich, co-founder of Esquire Magazine, called Bud Lilly "a trout's best friend." The appellation fit Lilly so well that he titled his 1988 autobiography with it. If one man can fairly be credited with changing the trout angling culture to one of preservation and sustainability, Bud Lilly would likely be that man.
Lilly beat the drum for catch-and-release fishing when it was an idea that was not only sneered at, but was thought to be just plain stupid. His efforts also helped shape the modern philosophy of fishery conservation programs employed by many state game and fish agencies.
But we're getting a little ahead of ourselves. Let's provide a bit of the biography of this American trout fishing icon.
The early years
Walen Francis (Bud) Lilly II was born in 1925 in Manhattan, Montana. His father, Walen Lilly, was a barber who shared his love of fishing and baseball with his son. The younger Lilly excelled at both.
One time, as a 15-year-old second baseman, Lilly played in an exhibition game against a traveling Negro League team that included renowned pitcher Satchel Paige. Lilly was able to manage a ground ball hit against the multifaceted pitching phenom.
He was offered a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds, but World War II put a hitch in that path. Lilly joined the Navy, where he was placed in a special training program. After attending the prestigious Montana School of Mines, he was sent to officer school where he earned his commission. Lilly served for 18 months in the South Pacific before being discharged in 1946.
"When I got back," he said, "I no longer had interest in playing baseball."
Using the G.I. Bill, Lilly got a degree in Applied Sciences from Montana State University and taught in Roundup, Deer Lodge, and Bozeman for several years while continuing to feed his fishing passion.
Then, in 1952 he purchased a fly fishing shop in West Yellowstone for $4,500, and so began a new chapter in the sport of fly fishing in Montana.
Bud Lilly (right) in his fly shop with customers. Montana State University Special Collections Library.
The Dean of Fly Fishing
Lilly operated Bud Lilly's Trout Shop and worked as a fishing guide and promoter of trout fishing and Montana in general. The fly shop was a family affair, and Lilly's knowledge and ability to read water and fish soon earned him the moniker "The Dean of Fly Fishing" from the locals.
He guided the well-heeled and famous, including Curt Gowdy, Tom Brokaw, Charles Kuralt, and Jimmy Carter. Lilly fishing trips with the rich and famous were also inadvertent promotions for his home state. He proudly declared that many of the people he guided also started businesses, invested, or built homes in Montana.
Back in his early guiding days, many Montana trout rivers were "put-and-take" fisheries. The Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks raised and planted hatchery trout for anglers to catch.
Lilly thought there was a better and more economical path to good trout fishing. He petitioned the state to modify their fish stocking practice. Rather than stocking hatchery trout he pushed for programs that encouraged wild trout to grow to their natural limits.
Under Lilly's plan, money that was formerly used to raise non-native fish could be redirected to habitat improvement and law enforcement. Lilly and others advocated for this format, which resulted in both more and bigger wild fish being caught than could be achieved by stocking hatchery trout, and at a more economical cost.
This model has become the standard fisheries program format followed by western state game and fish departments today.
Catch-and-Release
In the 1960s a couple of anglers from the East told Lilly about a funny new concept called catch-and-release. It was a lightbulb moment for Lilly. "It made sense to me," he told the Montana Standard in a 2015 interview at his home in Three Forks. Catch-and-release was a vital component to Lilly's plan to rely on wild trout over hatchery fish.
If anglers could be convinced that releasing trout unharmed would lead to superior trout fisheries, well, that would change everything. He created a catch-and-release club in his fly shop. Club members would receive silver buttons for the release of trout of various lengths. "The club caught on and a lot of anglers wore one or more buttons on his/her vest," recounted Paul Schullery, co-writer of Lilly's autobiography. "Presumably, the button kind of replaced the trout as the 'trophy.'"
"He was a real leader in a lot of things that have shaped where we are right now," said John Bailey, who runs Dan Bailey's Fly Shop in Livingston. Lilly was a tireless promoter of catch-and-release, and eventually the sneers and raised eyebrows stopped and an army of true believers in the new conservation ethic was formed. The catch-and-release conservation ethic is the norm today, and Bud Lilly is largely responsible for its prevalence.
"He had a megaphone, and people picked up on what he said. He wasn't the only voice, but he was probably the most prominent one." declared Bruce Farling, executive director of Montana Trout Unlimited, the organization that Lilly founded along with Pat Sample and Dan Bailey. "
Spreading the love for fly fishing
Lilly was also instrumental in helping to make fly fishing, a typically male sport, more appealing to women. He offered women-only guided fishing trips and helped establish women's fly-fishing clubs. Not coincidentally, Lilly's daughter Annette became the first female fishing guide in Montana.
In addition to these efforts, Lilly was intimately involved in many conservation programs and organizations. He was either the director or a board member of several conservation organizations, including Trout Unlimited, The Greater Yellowstone Coalition, The Whirling Disease Foundation, American Wildlands, Montana River Action, The Montana Land Reliance, Montana Trout Foundation and more. He also founded the Warriors and Quiet Waters Foundation, which introduces disabled veterans to Montana fly fishing and wild streams as a form of healing.
Lilly had his hand in so many conservation projects that you have to wonder if he had time to enjoy fishing for himself. He did. But for Lilly, fishing wasn't only about catching fish.
"Fly-fishing is the total experience because it's in wild country and wild rivers and wild trout and wild women," he told the Bozeman Daily Chronicle in 2011 with characteristic humor. "It's the opportunity to be in the out-of-doors, to think by yourself and learn."
Lilly was also responsible for assembling the Bud Lilly Trout and Salmonid Initiative, a 10,000-volume collection of books, manuscripts, and personal papers at Montana State University.
All of these projects and efforts Lilly undertook for the simple love of trout, rivers, nature, and conservation. But Lilly was no fly fishing snob. He believed that there was plenty of room for anglers of every persuasion and every method. "A good bait-fishermen or lure-fishermen is just as talented as a fly-fishermen," he said. He preached streamside courtesy and mutual respect, and the philosophy that there is enough river for all of us. "You have to learn to share," he said.
Bud Lilly passed away January 4, 2017. He was 91.
The next time you release a trout to catch it another day, you might think of Bud Lilly and silently thank him for his efforts on behalf of this wonderful game fish.
Try Frog Gigging for a Gourmet Delicacy and a Fantastic Time Outdoors
Frog gigging is an awesome and unusual way to harvest some of the best tasting meat to grace your dinner plate. Here’s what you’ll need to get started.
One of my fondest childhood memories was of going frog gigging with my dad. On a weekend night we'd head out to a little lake where we used to camp and fish. We'd bring flashlights, a multi-prong frog spear, and a gunny sack.
We'd walk the shore of that lake in the darkness, while a chorus of deep baritone bullfrog croaking surrounded us.
My dad would have me sweep the flashlight beam slowly across the shoreline until a set of frog's eyes reflected back. He'd crouch, spear in hand, silently and like a primeval hunter, and thrust the barbed pole into a giant bullfrog hypnotized by the light.
He'd slide the gig pole backwards in his hands until he could reach the frog. Then he'd dislodge the big frog from the spear head and drop the croaker into the gunny sack attached to his belt.
We'd bring home dozens of the large amphibians, some with hind legs as big as chicken legs, or at least they seemed that big. The next day my mom would sauté or bread and deep fry them, and we'd eat like kings.
I learned to love frog legs at an early age and I've always enjoyed harvesting them whenever I had the opportunity.
Getting started
We should make it clear that our quarry is the American bullfrog. The bullfrog is the big daddy of the frog world, at least in America. All other frogs are too small to bother with as far as the amount of meat they carry is concerned.
Bullfrogs primarily inhabit the East Coast, the Midwest, and the southeastern states, although they can also be found in a few western states. California reportedly has a healthy population of the slippery amphibians, and they are considered an invasive species there. They have also been introduced into several countries outside the U.S.
Hunting frogs is called 'frog gigging' or simply frogging or gigging. Before you decide that you'd like to try your hand at this mostly nocturnal sport, you need to check your state's hunting or fishing regulations to find out if there is a frogging season.
While this wasn't the case when I was growing up, today most states have seasons, bag limits, and approved methods of harvest when going after frogs. States also may require you to have a fishing or hunting license to pursue frogs. Tennessee, for example, requires a hunting license. Most other states require a fishing license.
Bag limits vary, depending on bullfrog populations and their status as either a desirable or invasive species. In Arkansas, for example, the daily bag limit is 18 bullfrogs. In Wisconsin, it's only five. In California there is no bag limit and you can harvest as many as you like.
Bullfrogs are big
Bullfrogs are not to be confused with any other kind of frog; they grow much bigger. While it is possible to confuse small, immature bullfrogs with the species known as green frogs, you don't want to harvest any little frogs anyway. So you should never make the mistake of confusing the two species.
Bullfrogs measure around 6-8 inches from snout to butt, and can weigh upwards of a pound-and-a-half (though most weigh well under a pound). They are green with yellowish or mottled undersides. They also have large circular tympana, or eardrums, right behind their eyes.
Their hind legs measure considerably longer than their bodies when extended. Their legs give them the ability to jump some pretty impressive distances, and are the prize we're after.
They make deep, bellowing mating calls that sound like a chorus of tubas around a lake at night.
Frog gigging equipment
You can go frog gigging with a bare minimum of equipment and at a cost that is practically nil. Here's the minimum of what you'll need to start:
Flashlight. You could dispense with this piece of gear and gig for bullfrogs in the daytime. But doing it at night increases your odds, as the frogs are more vocal and easier to locate then. Also, the light from a flashlight has the effect of immobilizing or hypnotizing the frogs, making your approach much less noticeable.
You don't need a super powerful light, but a water resistant flashlight comes in handy for obvious reasons. You might want to have an extra set of batteries or even a second flashlight on hand just in case.
Frog gig. You can't be a frog gigger if you don't have a frog gig. A gig is a multi-tined spear head at the end of a long pole. You can use the cheapest, three-prong barbed gig head you can buy, which is what my dad used to great effect.
They cost just two or three bucks at most any big box department store in the sporting goods section. Simply nail or screw the gig to a broom handle and you're good to go.
Or you can go all out and get a heavy duty gig head that's already attached to a telescoping pole for $20 or $30. I know what I'd prefer.
Sack. You need something to hold the frogs you harvest. A gunny sack or potato sack will do nicely. Some folks prefer a potato sack because it drains water more easily. Carry it or tie it to your belt.
Other pieces of gear to consider include:
Waders or muck boots, especially if you're gigging frogs from shore.
Bug spray. Where there are frogs there are mosquitoes.
Boat, if you choose to attack the amphibians from the water. You might combine a little night fishing with your frog gigging. If you do use a boat, a push-pole isn't a bad idea for quietly getting your boat into position close to shore.
That's really all you need.
I should also mention that I've caught frogs with a fishing pole and small lures. Bullfrogs have ravenous appetites and will strike at anything small that hovers above their heads. If you spot a bullfrog hiding in the weeds you can dangle a small fly or lure a few inches above its head and he will jump at it. I've hooked many a croaker this way.
Cleaning your catch
Clean bullfrogs by removing the hind legs with a butcher knife, cleaver, or game shears. Skin the legs similarly to how you might skin a bullhead or catfish. Use a pliers to pull the skin off, then snip the feet off with the game shears.
Don't bother with the front legs. They're generally too small.
Once you've got your frog legs cleaned and rinsed, cover them with salted water and allow them to firm up in the fridge for a little while.
Then, you've got any number of cooking options. Lots of folks like to use a deep fryer. Simply use an egg wash and bread crumb mixture to prepare them like you would most fish. Deep fried frog legs are fantastic. Or you can sauté them in butter with a little lemon and parsley.
One of my favorite ways to prepare them is to sauté them in a honey brandy sauce. I once had this dish in a restaurant and fell in love with it. As soon as I got home I began trying to replicate the honey brandy sauce until I got it right. It's my go-to frog leg recipe.
If you're looking for something unusual to do on a warm summer night, why not give frog gigging a try?
It is a truly simple outdoor pursuit that yields big dividends. You'll be hard pressed to find a better meat or a more fun night-time outdoor activity.
Carl Akeley Was A Legitimate Badass
The amazing things that Carl Akeley accomplished during his life of adventure will make you wonder why you've never heard of him before.
Carl Akeley
The name Carl Akeley is likely to be unfamiliar to most of us, despite some of the lasting impacts he has made on science and conservation.
Akeley not only made his mark as a successful inventor, biologist, conservationist, author, hunter, sculptor, and nature photographer, but he was also the man responsible for elevating taxidermy to a previously unknown level of realism. He turned a profession into an artform.
A nature lover with diverse interests, Akeley found himself within the circle of friends of another legend, Theodore Roosevelt. More on that relationship in a minute. Akeley was responsible for establishing several nature preserves and national parks, including the first wildlife sanctuary in Africa. He influenced the Hollywood film industry with a motion picture camera he invented. He was also one of the first humans to study mountain gorillas and the first to film them in the wild. He was a master of all his chosen trades, dedicated to science and preservation, and an adventure seeker.
His life was indeed a wild ride. He was stomped into the ground by a raging elephant, used a crocodile carcass as a raft to cross a deadly river, and was charged by three enraged rhinoceros at the same time. Oh, and he killed a revenge-seeking 80-pound leopard with his bare hands.
All in a day's work, right?
"Badass" only hints at the character of Carl Akeley. The man was as close to Superman as a mortal can get. Author Hawthorne Daniel described Akeley as "one of the most remarkable Americans of his time. No man that I know of can equal his amazing versatility."
Carl Akeley - Field Museum.
fieldmuseum.org
In the Beginning
Carl Ethan Akeley was born May 19, 1864 in Clarendon, New York. He was a skinny farm boy who took an obsessive interest in nature and wildlife at an early age. He saw an exhibit in Rochester that sealed his fate: the display contained several dozen stuffed critters by taxidermist David Bruce. He was enamored.
At 18 Akeley apprenticed with Bruce in Brockport, but Bruce quickly recognized his mentee's talent and recommended that Akeley return to Rochester to study under the preeminent taxidermist of his day, Henry Ward, at Ward's Natural Science Establishment.
Ward took the young Akeley on for a measly $3.50 a week, which was next to nothing even back then, with the stipulation that Akeley work from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm, with no sick leave or holidays.
Akeley found the work disappointing and unsatisfying, and he received no formal training working under Ward. He was basically nothing more than a manual laborer for Ward, who didn't care about the kind of realism or artistic expression that interested Akeley. Akeley complained that "the profession which I had chosen as the most satisfying and stimulating to a man's soul was neither scientific nor artistic as it was practiced at Ward's."
Back in those days taxidermy provided the source material for all of those comical 'Bad Taxidermy' photos we see online today. The mounted specimens they produced can generously be described as horrendous, or a thing of nightmares. They bore little resemblance to actual living animals.
Basically, taxidermists stuffed animal skins full of straw or cotton - the 'upholsterer's method' - and roughly formed the body to more closely resemble a pre-adolescent child's drawing of an animal. Your average stuffed animals exhibited buggy eyes, obvious seams and stitching, and awkwardly positioned legs. They were abysmal curiosities and had practically zero educational impact on their audience.
Carl Akeley’s taxidermy. A quantum improvement over what came before.
American Museum of Natural History
Jumbo the Elephant
Ward ultimately fired Akeley for falling asleep on the job. It's little wonder Akeley was tired; his contract stated that he could only work on his own advanced taxidermy skills at night. But Ward later realized that he wouldn't find an employee who worked as hard as Akeley - for as little money - and hired him back. It was during his second round with Ward that Akeley got his big break.
Ward assigned the task of mounting Jumbo, P.T. Barnum's famous elephant, to Akeley and William Critchley. Critchley was a caring and competent taxidermist who took Akeley under his wing. A train accident had killed the prize elephant, and the project took five months to complete. It earned Akeley a certain measure of notoriety.
Akeley also made friends with another fellow taxidermist while at Ward's, one William Morton Wheeler. Wheeler advised Akeley to apply at the Milwaukee Public Museum.
Akeley did just that, and for six years he refined his revolutionary taxidermy method. Milwaukee was where Akeley also developed his idea to show his lifelike animals in their natural settings, a natural complement. He gave his dioramas as much attention and effort as he did the actual creatures he was mounting.
"Muskrat Group" - one of Akeley's early dioramas for the Milwaukee Public Museum.
Wikipedia
After leaving Milwaukee, Akeley did a few years as an independent contractor (doing work for, among others, the Smithsonian Institution). Then, in 1896, he joined the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. It was then that his career really took off, and his taxidermy methods truly became astounding.
A Revolutionary Method of Displaying Wildlife
Where others before him had done questionable work literally 'stuffing' animals, Akeley decided that his creatures must educate and inspire the public in ways they had never seen before. He dedicated himself fully. He studied the anatomy and biology of his creations, to the point that he became a legitimate scientist of wildlife biology.
Akeley developed a complicated method of crafting forms around which the animal's skin would be attached. He used clay, wire, and wood, and sometimes even the animal's own skeleton to create forms from which he then molded papier-mâché mannequins. The mannequins showed the animal's musculature and veins, and were posed in extremely natural, lifelike postures.
The forms we see taxidermists use today are a direct result of Akeley's creative genius. Additionally, Akeley developed a method of skinning that hid the seams when the hide was sewn back together over the form, always going the distance to bring life back into the animals that had lost theirs.
Carl Akeley modeling an elephant for Hall of African Mammals in 1914.
AMNH
As mentioned, he put tremendous care into the displays he built, just as he did in his working restoring his subjects. Akeley brought realism to the animals he worked on, so it only made sense that he would bring their environments to life as well. He developed methods to reproduce natural-looking flora, such as grass and leaves, and did so using beeswax, wire, thread, and other materials. He labored tediously to create the natural settings specific to each species where they would be mounted.
Akeley eventually left The Field Museum and began working as the chief taxidermist for the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York City in 1909.
The AMNH financed Akeley's expeditions to Africa, where he hunted for specimens to fill his dream of a hall of taxidermied African wildlife. He felt that African game was quickly going the way of the dinosaur. Fearing extinction, he wanted to build something that would allow future generations to be able to see those beasts in their natural habitats, before they were all gone.
Akeley began work on his massive project, collecting the animals himself during his African expeditions. Unfortunately, he died before getting the opportunity to finish the project. After his death, his work was continued by others. The AMNH christened it the Akeley Hall of African Mammals. It is a monumental achievement and a legacy to the man rightly called the Father of Modern Taxidermy.
The iconic elephant diorama in the Akeley Hall of African Mammals.
AMNH
At the center of the African hall is a freestanding diorama of eight cow, yearling, and bull elephants, surrounded by 28 habitat dioramas displaying the diverse landscape and wildlife of the continent. Included are ostriches, rhinoceros, giraffes, a pride of lions, warthogs, mountain gorillas, and more, all in their natural habitats. The animals are posed to exhibit behaviors observed in the wild.
Audiences flocked to see Akeley's dioramas and lifelike mounts. It is just as awe-inspiring today as it was when it was fresh and new - a timeless contribution to science.
Akeley's Camera and Cement Gun
While he was busy setting the taxidermy world aflame with productive change, Akeley also finished quite a few other unique projects. He authored articles for National Geographic and wrote several books, including a children's book. He also authored In Brightest Africa, which told of his hunting experiences and getting up close and personal with gorillas.
He also achieved critical artistic acclaim as a sculptor. Several of his pieces are on display in museums today.
With an imaginative mind like Akeley had, it seems only natural that he would also be an inventor. He received more than 30 patents for his inventions, which included the unique and highly adaptable Akeley Motion Picture Camera.
The camera was, like other things Akeley put his hands to, transformative. It had the ability to smoothly pan and tilt, and capture fast action sequences fluidly and seamlessly.
Akeley’s “Pancake Camera.”
The Magnificant Mile
Akeley used his "pancake camera" (so-called because of its shape) to film the first-ever motion pictures of gorillas in the wild, in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The camera became a favorite of explorers around the world and was employed on countless famous and noteworthy expeditions. It also became the favored camera for World War I correspondents who preferred its light weight and mobility for producing newsreels of the war.
Hollywood also exploited the advantages of the camera, using it in several famed motion pictures, including Nanook of the North (1922), Simba (1928), Frank Capra's Flight (1929), Howard Hughes' Hell's Angels (1930), the chariot races in the 1926 film Ben Hur, and William Wellman's Wings (1927), which won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
It became such an indispensable piece of equipment that scripts actually called for "Akeley shots," signifying that Akeley's camera was the one for the job.
In addition to the camera, Akeley also invented a search light used in WWI and, notably, a tool that sprayed a concrete mixture like a firehose. His "Shotcrete" invention was (and still is) a viable tool to repair and build walls, pools, and other structures. President Teddy Roosevelt actually adapted it for use in building the Panama Canal.
Almost Getting Killed . . . the First Time
It was Africa that truly thrilled Akeley's soul. He made his first expedition in 1896, and it was during this trip that Akeley had an encounter that would make him the subject of adventure magazines and pulp fiction.
Popular Science article, Dec. 1925.
Akeley was out in the Somaliland bush one day, hunting for specimens to bring back to America for mounting. He had little success, but he did shoot a nice warthog. He left the hog where it lay and continued hunting, intending to retrieve it on his way back to camp.
Upon his return to the spot where he shot the warthog, he saw only a spot of blood and drag marks in the dirt where the warthog's carcass should be. Suddenly, he noticed a shadowy blur in the nearby brush. He lifted his rifle and fired. A pain-maddened snarl greeted Akeley.
Accounts of what happened next vary, but ultimately Akeley fired several more times, missing multiple times and finding his mark at least once. But that one time only served to enrage a maddened 80-pound leopard that leaped for Akeley's throat.
Akeley instinctively lifted his right arm to defend himself, and the bloodthirsty cat bit down hard. The scene was a whirlwind of teeth, claws, and desperate human limbs trying to fend off the feline cyclone.
If you've ever tried to hold a house cat that didn't want to be held, you might get a weak idea of what Akeley was going through. He was caught in a life and death struggle with 80 pounds of leopard intent on killing him.
"I felt no pain," Akeley recounted, "but I certainly never thought for a moment that I was going to come out alive. I was rather calm, as a matter of fact, except for a tremendous and wildly pleasant thrill I felt, knowing that I was battling for my life. I remember very clearly thinking of a conversation I once had with a friend when, at the World's Fair at Chicago, we had seen a statue of an Indian fighting a bear, very much as I was fighting this leopard. We wondered if the man felt any pain. 'Well,' I thought, 'I could tell him now. But I won't have a chance'."
While his right arm was being mauled by the leopard, Akeley grabbed the big cat by the throat with his left hand. He desperately tried to strangle the beast and keep the slashing claws from ripping open his belly.
Carl Akeley with the leopard that nearly killed him, 1896.
Rare Historical Photos
This was life or death, and things did not look good for Akeley. There are very few instances where humans have overtaken a beast like a leopard with their bare hands.
But Akeley had the advantage of his free left hand. Plus, this cat didn't know it was trying to devour Carl Ethan Akeley, a man with more grit and determination than your average titan.
"With my left hand at the animal's throat I pushed him down my right arm, for he was chewing all the time," he said. "I dragged my whole arm through his jaws, and finally I got my right fist in his mouth." Akeley shoved his bloody right hand and arm as far down into the spotted buzzsaw's gullet as he could.
"We were both getting weak, and at last we went down," Akeley continue. "Luckily the leopard was underneath, and as we fell my knees struck his chest, and I heard a rib snap."
That was all Akeley needed. "So I jumped up and down on his chest with my knees, while I still had his throat with my left hand, and held my right hand in his mouth. I caved his ribs in, and finally he gave a gasp and released his hold."
Whether through skill, luck, or a combination of the two, Akeley finished the beast off with a knife and made it back to camp. His men pumped his shredded arm full of antiseptics to stave off infection from the cat's many bite marks. They brought the leopard into camp where it was discovered that Akeley had hit it twice with superficial bullet wounds.
Akeley became the subject of several adventure magazines and comics. Please check out Ken’s Corner for some fantastic imagery of Akeley’s encounter as told in comicbook form.
Ken’s Corner
Adventurers around the world thrilled at the photo of a bandaged Akeley standing next to the hanging leopard. Depictions of the attack, some taking more artistic license than Akeley would likely approve of, accompanied magazine articles with overly dramatic headlines.
The photograph is deceiving, as the leopard looks smaller than its 80 pounds. But the grim look on Akeley's face was surely enough to give any of the leopard's feline relatives second thoughts about revenge; he's even tougher than he looks.
Almost Getting Killed . . . the Second Time
The second time Akeley stared death in the face was even more severe than his encounter with the leopard. It happened in 1911, while hunting elephants in the forests of Mount Kenya.
Following a large track with his gun bearer, Akeley heard a rustling behind him and turned. Suddenly a massive, enraged elephant burst through the foliage and bore down on him.
Before he could lift his rifle the beast slammed into Akeley like a battering ram, slicing him across the face with its sandpaper-like trunk. Akeley quickly came to his feet and wiped the blood from his eyes, only to see the maniacal pachyderm bearing down on him with a deadly six-foot long ivory tusk.
Akeley showing his camera to a group of Turkani natives.
Immediately deciding that he'd rather not be a bloody ornament at the end of an elephant tusk, Akeley grabbed the tusk and swung himself in between the two long ivories. The maddened mammoth then used his tonnage to headbutt and drive Akeley straight into the earth, attempting to flatten him like a pancake.
"...I saw a great tusk aimed directly at my chest," Akeley retold the tale. "I grabbed it with my left hand, and grabbed the other tusk with my right, and swinging in between them, I went down on my back."
The force of the blow shattered Akeley's rib cage, and his body looked like a rag doll abused by the Incredible Hulk. Before he lost consciousness, Akeley recalled the elephant's shark-like eye staring back at him with apparent glee that he had pulverized this puny human.
"So there I was between the great tusks," he said, "which he plunged into the ground on both sides of me, with his curled-up trunk against my chest. I have a clear recollection of that instant. I had the sensation of being crushed, and I remember looking up into what seemed to me a very small and wicked eye, just a little above me, and I knew I could expect no mercy from it. And then he gave a sort of wheezy grunt as he plunged down, and that is all I recall."
Akeley following his elephant attack.
The natives believed Akeley was dead. They left him lying in an elephant head-shaped depression for several hours as it rained and turned the shallow pit into a mudhole. Akeley eventually moved, and the surprised natives got him back to camp and then to civilization, where he spent six months convalescing.
Apparently the elephant's tusks had hit a rock while trying to drive Akeley through the earth, which stopped his pile driving effort and probably saved Akeley's life.
More Near-Death Incidents
Elephants and rhinos charged Akeley at least 20 times during his career. One time he was charged by three rhinos from three different directions at the same time. When recounting this incident, he replied simply that rhinos had bad eyesight and were usually more interested in charging than in killing.
Another time a herd of elephants stampeded through his camp, the resulting earthquake causing a scene of pure chaos and some fine gymnastics by Akeley as he rolled out of the way of rumbling pachyderms and falling trees.
Theodore Roosevelt accompanied Akeley on an expedition in 1909. Akeley dedicated his book In Brightest Africa to Roosevelt.
Akeley and his wife Mary, on his final safari, 1926.
Throughout Akeley's career he made five expeditions to the continent. His last was in 1926, where he traveled to the Belgian Congo with his second wife, Mary Jobe Akeley, a noted adventurer in her own right and 20 years Akeley's junior.
It was on this trip that Akeley contracted malaria and dysentery, and ultimately succumbed. He was 62 years old, but had the stamina and carriage of a man in his twenties.
Akeley's expressed his interest in hunting and collecting animal specimens was for purely scientific reasons. He felt it was his duty to try to preserve these creatures for future generations to appreciate, in dioramas showing their natural habitats and behaviors, before they were all gone.
Towards the end of his career, his viewpoint shifted and he started to question the morality of killing the animals he mounted. It was after this perspective change that he threw himself into preservation and conservation work, and as with everything else he did, made lasting impressions in that field.
He advocated for the preservation and protection of many species by convincing world leaders like Roosevelt to establish national parks and wildlife preserves. Akeley persuaded King Albert of Belgium to establish what is now called Virunga National Park. It is a place where his beloved mountain gorillas are protected. Virunga is also Africa's first national park.
Akeley lies where he fell in east Africa, between the volcanos Mikeno and Karisimbi. It took two-dozen porters three days, working in 12-hour shifts, to carve his gravesite in the hard volcanic rock. He lies only a couple miles from where he encountered his first gorilla in 1921.
It was Akeley's last wish. "I want to die in the harness," he told his wife. "I want to be buried in Africa."
Chicken of the Woods
The other day I found a couple of Chicken of the Woods mushrooms growing down by the boat launch. This is one of my favorite wild muchrooms, maybe my favorite (yes, even more than morels). They usually show up in a sizable quantity, are easy to spot, easy to identify, and have a wonderful meaty texture and outstanding flavor. Since I found these two, I’ve been on a mushroom-eating binge the last few days, eating them pretty much for every meal.
Normally I dry mushrooms for long-term storage, but I decided to freeze these. Have three ziplock bags full of Chicken of the Woods in the freezer now. They are such a beautiful mushroom, I just had to share pictures of them with you here.
Arbogast Sputterfuss
Today I read Bill Sonnett’s story on the Bass Fishing Archives website, “The Arbogast Sputterfuss.” It’s a great story; Bill’s a good writer and an undisputed expert on vintage fishing lures and tackle. I happen to have a couple of vintage Sputterfuss lures, aka Hawaiian Wigglers. So, after reading Bill’s story I grabbed one of them and hit the lake. It’s a surface lure, but you have to reel mighty fast to keep it on the surface. I honestly don’t know how anglers back in the day cast this lure for more than a short time - the reels were slower back then, so I imagine you’d get pretty tired out reeling those low ratio reels. I was using a new St. Croix rod and an Abu Garcia Revo X reel.
After around 20 minutes of throwing the Sputterfuss I finally got a surface blow-up, and quickly netted the keeper bass in the photo. I was glad I was using a modern rod and reel combo, with a high ratio reel. It’s so cool catching fish on antique baits.
Give Bill’s story a read. It’s good.
The History of Sportfishing
My friend Terry Battisti has been involved in an exciting project over the last couple years, titled “The History of Sportfishing.” Well, all 12 episodes are now out. Terry has written two 1-hour episodes of the 12. Readers of Bass Fishing Archives will know Terry as the creator and primary writer of that historical archive (it’s one of the places where you can also find my own writing on the subject). He’s also a co-host on the video channel Big Bass Podcast and a frequent guest on the Bass After Dark video show.
The group of individuals who have produced and created The History of Sportfishing is second to none, with a solid track record of award-winning series for television and theater. But you can read all about them and the documentary film series at the History of Sportfishing website, as well as subscribing to or purchasing the series.
Here’s are a couple video snippets from the History of Sportfishing YouTube channel:
I encourage everyone to go the project website and YouTube channel, watch the video snippets, and think about purchasing either individual episodes or subscribing to the entire season. If you love fishing, you’re sure to love this series.
2024 Antique & Classic Outboard Motor Club Tomahawk National Show
Yesterday I drove up to Tomahawk, Wisconsin and attended the Antique Outboard Motor Club National Show. I saw several beautiful vintage boat and motor displays, and visited all of the booths of vendors selling old outboards, parts, manuals and other paraphernalia. I just love the look of old wood boats and outboard motors. The craftsmanship that went into these objects is unparalleled.
I picked up a couple of old manuals, a 1927 Hunting & Fishing magazine (full of awesome old fishing and hunting ads), a tee-shirt and a hose for my 1956 Mercury outboard. Next year I’m thinking I might buy another old motor or two. Here are a few photos from the show.
Sea to Summit Camping Cook Pots
Sea to Summit has hit a home run with at least two of their Camp Kitchen line of cooking pots. The Frontier UltraLight Pot 1.3L size, and the Detour Collapsible Pouring Pot 1.8L size. I gave these pots a good workout, cooking several meals or dishes while camping, where they performed very well. But my enthusiasm for them is bolstered by the fact that I continue to use them at home, especially the Frontier UltraLight Pot. That little kettle has become my favorite all around cooking pot, both when out in the field and at home on the stovetop.
First, the Detour Collapsible Pouring Pot. The clever feature of this pot is that it collapses to less than half its full size, thanks to a rubber center gasket that folds in on itself when the pot is not in use. It works like those collapsible plastic travel cups you probably saw when you were a kid. This is fantastic for camping storage, and Sea to Summit has wisely made full use of this technology by producing more full cooking and dining sets that are collapsible. I plan on changing out most of my camping kitchen gear to these sets. Just thinking of the space I’ll save when packing makes me smile.
But the Detour Pot has more to recommend it than just its compactness. The handle is another big benefit. The handle can be used as a regular pot handle, and then once you’ve finished cooking and are ready to store the pot, the handle can be reversed, locked into place and will securely hold the pot lid in place. They call it a Dual Click-Safe handle. Darn clever. I had no worries about carrying a full pot of soup with the handle locked in place.
The metal portions of the pot are stainless steel, which means that it’s durable and easy to clean. The rubber collapsible gasket is BPA-free and food safe. Honestly, I had my doubts about this pot. The collapsible rubber side in the center of the pot had me wondering how it would take the heat of a camp stove, but cooking was as straightforward as with any other pot, and cleaning up was just as easy. But what I really like is the compact stowaway benefit.
Next, the Frontier UltraLight Pot. This has become my favorite in-home pot. Sure, it performed quite nicely while camping, but I found it to be so serviceable and convenient that I continue to use it in my home kitchen. The 1.3L size is perfect for one person, but Sea to Summit also makes a 2L and 3L size with the exact same features. The 3L pot is on my personal Christmas wish list.
This is a light-weight anodized aluminum alloy pot with a ceramic non-stick coating that makes for easy clean-up. The Dual Click-Safe handle functions the same as in the Detour Pot, and secures the lid when you’re not using it. I store some small items in the pot itself when camping, and the lid stays tight because of the handle. The inside of the pot has measurements so you can be precise when adding water or broth to a dish, but frankly I never paid any attention to those. 1.3L is a small pot and I had no need for internal measurements. But if I get the 3L pot those might come in handy.
What really sold me on this light-weight little pot, however, are the strainer holes in the lid. Man, that is a great feature. If I’m cooking pasta, boiling eggs, or any other liquid dish where the liquid needs to be drained after cooking, this feature is well appreciated.
My only complaint is that the top, silicone lid handle could be just a bit larger on both pots. My fat fingers could have used another half inch of handle to grab onto.
Overall, these Sea to Summit cook pots are impressive, and are a welcome addition to my camping kitchen kit (and my home kitchen). Good job, Sea to Summit.
