AA-2026-13FE5C
On the image
A man, in the practical bucket hat and dark clothing favoured by 1970s lake fishermen, extends his morning's work toward the camera. This specific ritual, the formal presentation of a recently captured fish, was the era's accepted standard for proving one's outdoor prowess and justifying the long drive to a remote body of water.
His small aluminium boat, beached casually nearby, suggests a day dedicated to the simple pursuit of a fish, not luxury. It was important to document these things, to have evidence of the transaction between man and nature. The fish, of course, had only one thing left to prove: its edibility.
The historian's note
The image depicts a recreational fisherman showcasing his catch, likely a pike or pickerel, on the shore of a lake during the 1970s. This period saw a continued rise in outdoor leisure activities, with fishing remaining a popular pastime across North America.
The attire of the fisherman and the presence of a small, utilitarian aluminium boat are characteristic of the equipment used by amateur anglers of the decade. Such photographs served as personal records of successful outings and contributed to the social aspect of fishing culture.
Subjects & keywords — each links to a search
Visually related — by likeness
Lake Fisherman with Catch, 1970s. 1970–1979. Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library, AA-2026-13FE5C. https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/lake-fisherman-with-catch-1970s.
@misc{aaAA202613FE5C,
title = {Lake Fisherman with Catch, 1970s},
year = {1970–1979},
howpublished = {Archive \& Atlas, Historical Image Library},
note = {Accession AA-2026-13FE5C},
url = {https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/lake-fisherman-with-catch-1970s}
}TY - ART TI - Lake Fisherman with Catch, 1970s PY - 1970–1979 PB - Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library AN - AA-2026-13FE5C UR - https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/lake-fisherman-with-catch-1970s ER -
From the community
Identifications, corrections, and discussion from readers — reviewed by a librarian before appearing here.
Sign in to add an identification, correction, or comment.
No notes yet — be the first to add what you know about this image.