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Introduction
Starting around 1927, the South Bend Bait Company began to advertise
the availability of fishing films for use by Izaak Walton League
Chapters, Conservation or Civic Clubs. There was no charge for use
of the films, as long as the organization paid express charges both
ways. Most films were supplied in both 35 mm and 16 mm
format. All film was produced on Safety Film stock.
Early films were produced in black and white, but later films were
available in color. Each reel ran around 12 to 45 minutes in
length.
During the 1930's the South Bend catalogs listed some of the film
titles available. Complete details about the films were available
by requesting "Folder C-79." (If you have a copy of this
folder, please contact me so that
I can update this article with a more comprehensive listing of titles
available.) After the war, film titles were no longer listed, but
references to the availability of the films continued. South
Bend advertised the availability of these films until 1965.
Film Preservation
I was fortunate to obtain five original film titles from South Bend's
archives. I had the 16mm film transferred to VHS and DVD for
preservation. Cost of the transfer was approximately $0.10 per
foot, plus the cost of producing master VHS tapes. In order to
bring some of this footage to other collectors, I obtained
video editing hardware and software for my computer and transferred some
of this footage to video and still clips for the enjoyment of fellow
South Bend collectors.
If you have any original South Bend film titles, I would be willing
to pay for the transfer process to VHS tapes, provided I could retain 1
copy of the film. If your interested, please contact
me. Preservation of this material is essential for the future
generations to enjoy.
Film Titles
Based on information in South Bend catalogs, I have compiled the
following information about some of the film titles offered by South
Bend. Video clips and still frames can be viewed by
selecting the following icons after the movie
title:
Video clips
 Still
frames
Seeking Steelheads
"A depiction of the experiences of a party of anglers seeking
"steelhead trout" in the streams of Vancouver Island, British
Columbia, with glimpses of surrounding scenic attractions."
(1930 South Bend Catalog)
Filmed in black and white, this silent film was made in 1929. While the film itself is older, the copy acquired has a
"trailer" added at the end showing the newly remodeled South
Bend factory and copies of the 1938 and 1939 retail
catalogs. There are various shots of men fishing many
taken at Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island. (National Film Board
of Canada)
Fishing at Norris Dam (Title Unknown)
This is one of the five films I was fortunate to acquire.
There is no title on the film, but it features Ivar Hennings, H.O.
Stream., and other South Bend executives fishing at Norris Dam in
Knoxville, Tennessee. The film was shot of their fishing adventure
to Norris Dam from October 25, 1940 to November 3, 1940. During
one part of the film, Ivar Hennings circles these dates on a calendar,
allowing precise dating of the film. Next to the calendar was also
a copy of the 1940 Retail and 1940 Dealer Trade catalogs. This
film contains some awesome footage! Follow H.O. Stream
and others on a tour of the South Bend Display Room....see so many counter
displays that you'll almost fall off your chair! See actual
footage taken outside the South Bend Bait Factory......still
photos of Ivar Hennings and others with their "South Bend Tackle" boxes,
and more!
Action in Idaho
Filmed in color, this adventure features trout fishing in Idaho.
The scenery is great, and several South Bend executives, including Stu
Pritchard, are featured in this film.
Tigers of the North
"From the moment this film was reviewed in the projecting room
of the Canadian Government Motion Picture Bureau, it was destined to
become the most popular picture of it's kind ever produced. Filmed
in northwestern Ontario, where few anglers have penetrated, the scenery
is unsurpassed and the action will hold attention until the end.
Muskies are landed weighing upward of twenty-five pounds; bait casting
from shore and from boats. One scene in the picture shows
the cast, the bait dropping on the water, the strike, and landing the
fish. This is the very latest fishing picture taken by the
Canadian Government." (1928 South Bend Catalog)
The film was shot in black and white and appears to date to around
1927. There is some great footage of South Bend president,
Ivar Hennings, battling with muskies.
Dancing Dynamite
Shot in black and white, this silent film dates to 1929 and features fishing
for small mouth bass on Lake Nipigon, Ontario, Canada. (National
Film Board of Canada)
Tenderfoot Trails
"Filmed at the Athabasca Ranch near the eastern border of
Jasper National Park, Canada, this picture is a tale of three city
fellows who, tired of Summer Hotels and "ready-made"
vacations, sought new adventures by holidaying on a "dude"
ranch in the Canadian Rockies. The trip includes a pack-horse trip
through magnificent country, wading fast streams, fly casting and bait
casting for trout. A picture that will delight any outdoor
enthusiast because of its diversified interest." (1929 South
Bend Catalog)
This silent film also features various shots of bronco busting with
cowboys watching from a rail fence. Fishing was filmed at Rock
Lake and also features a stop at a Cree Indian camp on the way
home. The Indians are filmed dancing and playing games.
(National Film Board of Canada)
Salmon Angling on the Restigouche
"Each year anglers from all parts of the world visit this
famous river, so rich in scenic beauty, so noted for its excellent
salmon fishing. This film takes you on the Restigouche as it winds
its picturesque way through the dense forests of Northern New Brunswick
to the Bay of Chaleur. Salmon are raised, then hooked, but before
they are brought to gaff, thrill the audience time and time again, as
the salmon is a leaper and fighter." (1929 South Bend
Catalog)
Winding its way through the dense forest of Northern New Brunswick to
the Baie des Chaleurs is the country's most renown salmon stream, the
Restigouche River. Film features various shots of heroic battles
between two hundred pound fishermen and twenty-five pound salmon.
(National Film Board of Canada)
Invading Muskieland
"Over four thousand feet of film were taken to secure this
picture. Filmed at the same time as "The Tigers of the
North" at Hudson, Ontario, the leaps and dashes of the battling
'lunge will entertain you until the end." (1928 South Bend
Catalog)
Battling with Muskies
"This film has been proclaimed the finest action picture of the
fighting tiger of the North ever filmed. Every fish is landed by
bait casting -- no trolling. The scene is Hudson, Ontario, located
amidst the primitive outdoor country of northwestern Ontario. Few
game fish possess the battling ability of the 'lunge and in this film we
find him at his best. Leaps, dashes, thrills and excitement
accompany every foot of this movie and the alert handling of the muskies
by Ivar Hennings, President of the South Bend Bait Company, adds
materially to the exclusive features of "Battling with
Muskies." This is the newest fishing film taken under the
supervision of Raymond S. Peck, Director of the Canadian Government
Motion Picture Bureau." (1927 South Bend Catalog)
"Little did Ivar Hennings, president of the South Bend Bait
Company, realize when he made "Battling With Muskies" for the
Canadian Government that it would be shown all over the United States
and many foreign countries. Its success was instantaneous and
unquestionably it is the kind of a picture a red-blooded sportsman
enjoys. Every foot of this film is filled with excitement as the
"Old Timer" masters a battling mass of energy--the
muskie." (1928 South Bend Catalog)
The group in this silent film fishes at Kenneally Lodge on Lake
Vermilion in Ontario. Many great fishing scenes were filmed,
including a shot of a cameraman shooting with a hand-held camera,
standing in a canoe. (National Film Board of Canada)
In Quest of the Bronze Back
"Those that love the wild leaps and dashes of the fighting
small-mouth bass will enjoy this film. Bait and fly casting for
these beautiful bronze-backs are seen throughout the reel. Camp
life as well as fishing is portrayed in this movie by Cal Johnson, well
known write of the outdoors." (1927 South Bend Catalog)
Filmed in the '30's, picturesque Lake Weslemkoon lies deep in the
highlands of Ontario, about 70 miles north of Belleville. Anglers
tent on Chipmunk Island and canoe in search of small mouth bass.
(National Film Board of Canada)
Laurentian Lures
Mountain landscapes in the Laurentians open this silent film from
1930. Both men and women canoe on the lake in search of speckled
trout. (National Film Board of Canada)
Fishing Gamely for Game Fish
"A very interesting, educational reel portraying the finer
points of bait and fly casting." (1928 South Bend Dealer
Trade Catalog)
A very educational film showing everything from the proper method of
holding black bass and extracting hooks, to preparing fish for
cooking. Fishermen show how to spool line onto a reel and how to
lay out line to dry at the end of the day. A group of men also
discuss equipment and close-ups are shot of various artificial
lures. This silent film was produced during the '20's.
(National Film Board of Canada)
Nibigami Muskies
This silent film was made during the 20's at Kenneally Lodge near
Hudson, Ontario. It features some great footage of fishermen
boarding a Canadian Airways Fairchild seaplane with some aerial shots of
Nibigami and the plane landing on Cliff Lake. Muskies are the real
star of this film with plenty of fishing action. A Canadian
National Railways train rushes by the camera as a final compilation shot
of a map of Canada in the background. (National Film Board of
Canada)
Fishin' the High Spots
Maligne Lake, the finest trout lake in American, had just one point
short of perfection: no fish. Then speckled trout were
planted in its glacial waters. This '30's film features tourists
at Jasper Lodge on horseback, including a sighting of a bear running and
climbing a tree! Two fishermen battle with trout while a porcupine
sits on a log floating on water. (National Film Board of Canada)
Muskies
This silent film was produced in the 30's in Canada. It
features muskie fishing on Cliff Lake at Minaki Lodge in Ontario. There
are also some aerial shots of the lake from a seaplane and the plane
racing with a train. (National Film Board of Canada)
Secrets -- Superior National Forest
Redwood Empire Sports Parade
Lake Trout Thrills
Where Trout Abound
Fighting Salmon
Fisherman's Choice -- Lake Trout or Muskies
Canoeing for Trout
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