75th Anniversary of SWS Volume 1

Go back in time with these photographs from the past 75 years.
  • Updated: June 10, 2014
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DuPont makes the case for its nylon monofilament line, invented in 1939.
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Ollie Rodman’s book bridges the gap between freshwater “sissies” and saltwater “hairy apes” (1948).
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This idea didn’t catch on until later, when they turned it upside down (1948).
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“What’s a buck in the hand compared to know-how in the bean?” asks this subscription ad (1953).
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First with fiberglass rods in ’46, Shakespeare follows with a companion fiberglass reel (1955).
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No Alibi made lures for 25 years before anglers started figuring out how to use them on bottomfish (1955).
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This might be the original SWS “Fish Babe” (1959).
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A classic is a lure that continues to do its job, more than half a century later (1959).
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Penn Senator, Squidder and Long Beach reels post their share of trophy catches (1959).
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Line durability was a constant concern, and roller guides and tips offered a “Jet Age” solution (1960).
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Boston Whaler touts minimalist design — “No Fins” — for easy maintenance and safety by sawing this 13-footer in half (1959).
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Stren develops lines specifically for newly developed spinning tackle (1960).
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As spinning reels grow in popularity, mono becomes the line of choice (1964).
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1950 — The F. & M. Schaefer Brewing Company joins SWS as a sponsor.
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An innovative generation of lures appears to meet the explosion of saltwater anglers (1965).

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