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I'm from Salem born in methuen. I dont recall them. Where were they located?
Been to both shops...DiGlorias was near an intersection of 495 and 110 in Methuen (same road as Tomborrello’s junk yard) and Froton was off of Lawrence Rd between that and Butler St. It may actually have been Butler St? Just checked and it was Tyler St.
Ding! Ding Ding! Yes, DiGlorias was on Merrimack and Froton's Bait was on Tyler St. Not sure if it was just me but the guy at DiGloria's was a salty SOB. Hated going in there, really, but the fish made me do it!
We would walk in along the railroad tracks to the pit and he would have us pick goldenrod galls. I thought he was crazy but every one of those goldenrod gall had a larvae in it.
Great additions to a great thread, Missileman and Joe.It was awful nice of you to take that ol' gent out tossing plugs from your boat, Joe. I'm sure you made his day!I'll bet you two shared some great stories of striper fishing, plugs and more.Thanks much for starting this post, Wayne and those that revive and add to it each year.
I remember as a youngster in a 14' home made plywood boat just drifting with the tide watching him maneuver that boat. taking care to keep his bait in the danger zone, it was men like him that made me who I am,the least I could do is give a little back.. its men like him that are the reason I give free seminars to give back in honor of those that taught me through their actions, the rest was up to me, but they planted the seed., I provided the desire.
taking care to keep his bait in the danger zone,
I know the desire was and is there!I know exactly what you mean by that! His inboard must have helped a lot. Kudos to you for studying his tactics and applying them. My questions now are, Did many people fish that zone then? Do many people fish that zone now other than kayaks and you? You would need some serious desire to build a 14' boat, at 14! Doubt you used marine plywood? Must have used plenty of caulk? Did you have anything pushing it besides your arms? Did you take it through the mouth?
Alot of people knew the "spot" not many knew how to work it.. no t much has changed, most people are clueless, they will see me working it , make a pass or two with no results and move on..the most valuable thing I ever learned, was to have your presentation where the fish are, it doesnt matter if you are drifting in a boat or chest deep in the surf, most fish have a confort zone, if you dont present to that zone You are fishing, but rarely catchingAs far as the 14' boat, it was a project my Dad and I did as father and son he got the plans from popular mechanics, the seams were put together with tar, that little boat weighed a ton,the old timers always teased me saying they knew where I was by listening for my constant bailing..the rig was powered by a 1956 18 hp evinrude, another project my dad and I did together,we also made the trailer from scrap from the junk yard, that is where I learned how to weld..I still have that ancient Lincon welder, it's one of the few things I have left from my father_/ child hood, serious skills and awesome memories not withstanig.
Understood on the "spot" and knowing where the bait should be, Joe.I remember Popular Mechanics and the projects they used to have. I enjoyed reading that magazine.Re: your 14' "woody", Sounds like a lesson in resourcefulness! I imagine it was pretty heavy. Did the tar ever heal enough so it didn't get on you and other things on a hot day? My father and I worked on countless projects together. They were all on his farm doing what he wanted/needed done!