I was working in my garage, sorting through some of my fishing rod building equipment, when a neighbor of mine asked me, “How do you build a fishing rod?” With the weather over the last month being so cold and windy, many anglers have turned to spending time organizing their fishing tackle. I smiled at my neighbor and said, “It was a journey of interest I will never forget.”
I was raised in a small town, with views of the Hudson River and the George Washington Bridge. As a youngster I would get a ride down to the Hudson River or take my bike for a long ride, and explore how many folks were fishing along the rock walls of the Hudson. I saw people catching fish such as green eel, the tom cod, striped bass and occasional bluefish. I often asked the fisherman what bait they were using to catch their fish? Each angler always replied with the statement that they bought worms at Gerry’s Bait and Tackle shop at the top of the road leading to the Hudson River Park. So, on this July day I decided to stop at Gerry’s, at what it was commonly called, to see what was in the shop. As I parked my bike and walked in the door, it felt like I had entered a Disney Studio. Tons of beautiful custom built fishing rods were on display, along with an assortment of Ocean City Reels, Penn Reels and a few I never imagined. In a glass cabinet, tons of fishing lures, in all sizes and colors, were on display. Hooks and tackle boxes, all handmade, lined the top of the cabinet as well.
To my surprise, a big gentleman, tan as could be, and wearing old khaki pants, held up by a big leather belt and a set of pliers, fixed in a handmade leather case was hanging from that belt. His shirt was faded white with an embroidered name over the pocket that said Captain Gerry. Watching my every move, the owner asked me if I needed bait. My answer was no, as I did not have a fishing rod for use in the Hudson. He then asked me where I lived and what my parents’ names were. I was a little surprised by that question, but answered my parents are Ruth and David Lev. Oh, you are Lev’s kid. I know your dad, as he was active in the Lions Club, and I was a member as well. The captain also said I know your mom, as she often comes into the shop asking for a gift contribution during the holidays, when she was helping with the local orphanage holiday party. I was surprised but glad to know my parents knew Captain Gerry. Our conversation continued for a while and then I got the shock of my life. Captain Gerry asked me if I was off from school for the summer. When I told him yes, he asked me if I would like to help in the shop if my parents approved. I knew they would, so I fired out – YES!
Well, that is how it basically started. My first task in the Fort Lee Bait and Tackle Shop was to open a big box of sand worms, that were delivered every other morning, and pull out a dozen worms, putting them in a small bait box with some seaweed ready to be sold by the dozen. At the end of the day, I had received many worm bites from the worms’ pinchers but did not want the captain to know that I hated that job. Within a couple of weeks, I was watching Captain Gerry building a fishing rod from scratch. It was very time consuming, but each rod was so beautiful that it sold within a week after it was placed for sale on the store’s rack. During each stage of the rod being built, Captain Gerry asked me if I would like to try that task he was working on. After weeks of watching and getting some rod building lessons, I finally got the chance to build my own fishing rod. Captain Gerry could not pay me for my work, as I was still too young to be employed, so he would give me parts from some of the old rods he would repair, with replaced parts. After about a month, I had accumulated enough parts to start my first fishing rod.
Each morning, after the rush by customers to buy bait, Captain Gerry would spend an hour or so teaching me all the skills necessary to build a fishing rod. After about a month, my first rod was complete. It was not a masterpiece, but it was my build. Captain Gerry showed almost every customer my rod and told them that someday I would be a master rod builder. I can’t tell you how proud I felt, and more importantly how much fun I had working in the shop.
I worked in the Fort Lee Bait and Tackle Shop for at least four summers, until my high school studies kept me very busy, but I always managed to stop by and box a few worms, clean up the counter and admire the beautiful custom fishing rods Captain Gerry built. Seventy years later, I still used the skills Captain Gerry taught me. Many of my friends now use the fishing rods I built for them. A few years ago, I ran a fishing rod build class for 16 folks who wanted to learn how to build a fishing rod. The class was a success as they all learned Captain Gerry’s method of building a great fishing rod.
Tight Lines
