Too big for fishing weight?

[Srhoads]

Found this in Illinois. Solid lead. Ideas?

 

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[HutSiteDigger]

The last picture you posted sure does look like a fish or maybe it is just me... Probably is a fishing wet and def. not to big....

 

[dbag1969]

Torpedo trolling weight

 

[HutSiteDigger]

Something similar to this - you just have a vintage one that probably dates to the late 1800s/early 1900s

 

[Srhoads]

Any idea on age?

 

[Srhoads]

Nevermind. Thanks!

 

[HutSiteDigger]

Read above.. We were typing @ the same time.. That is my opinion but I am not a expert on vintage fishing wets. As you know Lead use dates back far and they used lead basically up until the 1950s...

 

[Southern Brass]

My guess is that it is an old fishing weight. The brass eyelet looks as if it was made for the fishing line to attach to . I have no idea on the age or what years it could be made from

 

[diggummup]

Interesting. The only thing that bothers me is, there is no second loop to attach your line to. If this were a trolling weight it would need 2 eyelets. Any evidence of a second eyelet near the tail section or mouth? I guess you could have attached a 3 way swivel above it, but you couldn't troll very well with it. It would be more for still fishing or drifting in deep water. It is unique and probably OOAK, and it does appear old with all that oxidation on it.



Anyway that's my two cents.

 

[TNGUNS]

Not at all trying to be sarcastic but how would they troll in the late 1800's. No motorized boats of fishing size unless they did it off a steamer etc. Do believe it is a fishing weight but not as old if in fact it was used for trolling, or old and used in another way. Certainly know enough to know that I am often wrong ha ha.

 

[txcowboy602]

Could be used to make a throw line or weight down a trot-line??

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

a downrigger of some sort

 

[aquanut]

Not at all trying to be sarcastic but how would they troll in the late 1800's. No motorized boats of fishing size unless they did it off a steamer etc. Do believe it is a fishing weight but not as old if in fact it was used for trolling, or old and used in another way. Certainly know enough to know that I am often wrong ha ha.

When I was a kid I used to troll while rowing my boat.

 

[unclemac]

boats have sails too....

 

[BosnMate]

Boats have had engines for centuries, it's called the "wind." The oyster boats drug nets on the bottom using the wind for power. Unless you were a Viking, then apparently they rowed everywhere they went. And yes, I've trolled by rowing the boat, but then I'm Norwegian, so it's in my blood.