“I’d rather be fishing” is a saying that has been on many items, such as bumper stickers, license plate holders, T-shirts and hats.
The “I’d Rather Be Fishing” bumper sticker existed by at least April 1976, when stickers were handed out free at the Los Angeles (CA) Sportsmen’s Vacation & Travel Show.
9 April 1976, Los Angeles (CA) Times, pt. 3, pg. D11 ad:
Free Bumper Sticker
I’d Rather Be Fishing
9 April 1976, Long Beach (CA) Independent, pg. C4, col. 1 ad:
LOS ANGELES SPORTSMEN’S VACATION & TRAVEL SHOW
Free Bumper Sticker “I’d Rather Be Fishing”
21 April 1976, Lynnwood (WA) Enterprise, “Bumper sticker business is alive and booming” by Marie Botnen, pg. 7, col. 6:
And then there are those messages from people who participate in various sports themselves…“Sailors Have More Fun”, “I’d Rather Be Fishing” or “Skiers Are Better Lovers”.
21 September 1977, Pasadena (CA) Star-News, “If you can read this, you may be too close” by Edwin Schoenler (Knight-Ridder Newspapers), pg. C8, col. 2:
Apparently not all drivers are content. A few Sundays ago within a distance of 30 miles we sighted bumper stickers saying “I’d Rather be Flying,” “I’d Rather be Fishing,” and “I’d Rather be Sleeping.” That “rather” theme could go on forever.
Google News Archive
2 November 1978, Charleston (SC) News and Courier, “Doing The Charleston” by Ashley Cooper, pg. B1, col. 1:
THE CAR in front of me yesterday, in a James Island traffic jam, had a bumper sticker which said, “I’d Rather Be Fishing.”
Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.
Recent entries:
•“Welcome to growing older. Where all the foods and drinks you’ve loved for years suddenly seem determined to destroy you” (4/17)
•“Date someone who drinks with you instead of complaining that you drink” (4/17)
•“Definition of stupid: Knowing the truth, seeing evidence of the truth, but still believing the lie” (4/17)
•“Definition of stupid: Knowing the truth, seeing the evidence of the truth, but still believing the lie” (4/17)
•“Government creates the crises so it can ‘rescue’ you with the loss of freedom” (4/17)
More new entries...
Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Google Maps. Stolen and missing, 2021-2024.
Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Aug. 15, 1931, Binghamton (NY) Press, pg. 14.
Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce "The Big Apple," a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.
Also listen to a 1937 "The Big Apple" song by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra. See a 1929 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald and a 1931 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald.
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