How Did Old Guys Catch Bass? 2024
Josh Smith reply :
I've been doing a lot of reading lately, and it turns out that the fast reels from back in the day were around 4.7:1, or 21ipt or so! Even worse, the standard reel had a 3.8:1 ratio! That's only 18ipt or so!
How did anyone ever fish fast enough to make bass strike? I thought a minimum of 5.3:1 was necessary, with 6.3:1 to 8:1 being preferred. What if the bass ran the boat, too? Help explain this to me!
How was this done?
Scott F reply :
If you'd asked the old guys that question back in the day and showed them the high speed reels of today, they would have asked a similar question. How do you catch fish moving the lure so fast? I think, most guys would catch more fish if they could slow down. A few lures need to be ripped, but there are many many baits that are most effective fished slowly.
Bruce424 reply :
Just reeled faster
0119 reply :
All my reels are 4.7:1. I don't lose fish because of the reel! Where in the world did you ever get the idea that a bass is a fast fish? He's an ambush predator and prefers to lay in wait and exert zilch in energy in order to eat. Don't believe everything the media, paid by the manufacturers tell you is true. Don't think what pros, who are paid by the manufacturers, do or say is true FOR SURE.
tstraub reply :
I think the old timers were catching the slow fish and eating them. Leaving only the fastest fish to breed and pass on their genes. Now we're faced with a population of faster fish.
Tyler
0119 reply :
On 3/26/2016 at 7:57 AM, tstraub said:I think the old timers were catching the slow fish and eating them. Leaving only the fastest fish to breed and pass on their genes. Now we're faced with a population of faster fish.
Tyler
Now we are faced with super fish who know chartruese from watermelon green. Require red line the goes invisible quickly. Underwater microphones that play taped baitfish noises to spur into biting. .........
Josh Smith reply :
On 3/26/2016 at 7:57 AM, tstraub said:I think the old timers were catching the slow fish and eating them. Leaving only the fastest fish to breed and pass on their genes. Now we're faced with a population of faster fish.
Tyler
This makes perfect sense!
Logan S reply :
There are 2 types of gear snobs...The 1st is the guy that has to have the latest and greatest and assures you that he's got the advantage because of his high-tech gear. The 2nd is 'old school' and thinks anything made after 1995 is just 'new-fangled marketing hype', he assures you that he can catch as many fish with his old gear as anyone else.
Believe it or not, both are right in certain ways. There IS a fair amount of marketing hype to sell the latest and greatest stuff. On the flip side, advances in rod/reel/lure tech CAN make an already competent fisherman more efficient/effective/capable. At the end of the day, fishing success is mostly determined by the person holding rod...Whether it's the latest and greatest or an old classic is of little importance.
This post was made in good fun...Not taking shots at anyone 
Josh Smith reply :
Impossible.
Fishin' Fool reply :
Remember that the REALLY old guys used to catch them on cane poles. For you youngsters that is string tied to a stick!
eyedabassman reply :
Cain poles ,bobbers and alot of beer!
Kevin22 reply :
I don't know what to tell you other than the old timers I see around here "stuck in their ways" are lucky to catch 1-2 fish a day when most others are catching 50-60. I don't think I've ever seen myself getting out fished by these types of people. They sure do brag about the good ol days of catching 100-200 bass a day. Don't get me wrong, we've both had tough days and were equal.. but when the fish are willing to bite, they fall prey to the new age baits and techniques and ignore the old school lures.
Are fish smarter or what? I don't know, they must be evolving and adapting to the predators (fisherman) on heavily pressured water.
Josh Smith reply :
On 3/26/2016 at 8:29 AM, Kevin22 said:I don't know what to tell you other than the old timers I see around here "stuck in their ways" are lucky to catch 1-2 fish a day when most others are catching 50-60. I don't think I've ever seen myself getting out fished by these types of people. They sure do brag about the good ol days of catching 100-200 bass a day. Don't get me wrong, we've both had tough days and were equal.. but when the fish are willing to bite, they fall prey to the new age baits and techniques and ignore the old school lures.
Are fish smarter or what? I don't know, they must be evolving and adapting to the predators (fisherman) on heavily pressured water.
So... Old people... can't fish?
WPCfishing reply :
Way back I used culprit and Mann worms, spinner baits and beetle spins most often. I caught my share, did very well in tournaments.
Reel speed is not so important.
Kevin22 reply :
"Old people" have kicked my butt on the water many times. I said old timers stuck in their ways, fishing like it is 1965. You know. Old 5' pistol grip rods, round baitcasters with that rope braid, and tossing around spinnerbaits with melted rubber skirts or "plugs" that are gawdawful ugly things with galvanized steel hooks.
Ever see grumpy old men 2? That's what we have around here...
Josh Smith reply :
On 3/26/2016 at 8:45 AM, WPCfishing said:Reel speed is not so important.
Then why to the pros say it is?
Scott F reply :
On 3/26/2016 at 8:47 AM, Josh Smith said:Then why to the pros say it is?
The pros say what their sponsors tell them to say.
Josh Smith reply :
On 3/26/2016 at 8:49 AM, Scott F said:The pros say what their sponsors tell them to say.
I can't believe that. Fishermen never stretch the truth.
tstraub reply :
On 3/26/2016 at 8:49 AM, Scott F said:The pros say what their sponsors tell them to say.
Exactly, and if they ever televise jug fishing we'll see the pros telling us why a Prairie Farms milk jug is better than a Deans. And when to use a full gallon , 1/2 gallon, or really lighten up and go with the 1 quart to really finesse jug fish.
Scott F reply :
On 3/26/2016 at 9:49 AM, tstraub said:Exactly, and if they ever televise jug fishing we'll see the pros telling us why a Prairie Farms milk jug is better than a Deans. And when to use a full gallon , 1/2 gallon, or really lighten up and go with the 1 quart to really finesse jug fish.
Do you use FC or braid on the jugs?
tstraub reply :
On 3/26/2016 at 10:00 AM, Scott F said:Do you use FC or braid on the jugs?
Jug fishing does not require sensitivity or hook setting power the only thing you need to worry about is line shy fish. So I suggest the most expensive FC you can find.
Raul reply :
On 3/26/2016 at 7:42 AM, Josh Smith said:I've been doing a lot of reading lately, and it turns out that the fast reels from back in the day were around 4.7:1, or 21ipt or so! Even worse, the standard reel had a 3.8:1 ratio! That's only 18ipt or so!
How did anyone ever fish fast enough to make bass strike? I thought a minimum of 5.3:1 was necessary, with 6.3:1 to 8:1 being preferred. What if the bass ran the boat, too? Help explain this to me!
How was this done?
Oh dear, why do I always hav to explain everything, can't you just figure it out on your own ?it's called witchcraft, that's how we caught fish, skin of a toad, eyes of a newt, feather of a raven, egg from a dodo, stir well, shake vigorously after and presto ! There you go, a 10 lber.
On 3/26/2016 at 8:46 AM, Kevin22 said:
Ever see grumpy old men 2? That's what we have around here...
Where ? Don't see no grumpy old fellers around .........
greentrout reply :
The old Mitchell 300 is responsible for a lot of LMB being caught. My dad gave me one and I used what I had at the time and thoroughly enjoyed it. Caught a few, too.
Josh Smith reply :
You know, I think Raul remembers some of my earlier posts!
?
Josh
tbone1993 reply :
On 3/26/2016 at 8:46 AM, Kevin22 said:"Old people" have kicked my butt on the water many times. I said old timers stuck in their ways, fishing like it is 1965. You know. Old 5' pistol grip rods, round baitcasters with that rope braid, and tossing around spinnerbaits with melted rubber skirts or "plugs" that are gawdawful ugly things with galvanized steel hooks.
Ever see grumpy old men 2? That's what we have around here...
You'll see plenty of pros still tossing around the old style spinnerbaits and whacking the bass. This is the only photo I could find without digging out my box of vintage ones. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Ricky-Green-Pro-Model-CHOPPER-BEE-Spinnerbait-by-Bumble-Bee-Bait-Co-/121924375698?hash=item1c63425492:g:s3cAAOSwAuNW5sVF Those same old times were the ones that lived and breathed the days of no limit fishing. Give Blake Honeycutt a lookup. That being said guys that don't take care of their stuff do bad just like someone with a new reel that has old line.
S. Sass reply :
Sampo ball bearings, awesome!!! Love the old school baits etc.
Old men never caught any fish. We just went hungry that night. 
What many of you kiddos don't know is we use to fish to put a meal on the table. We had outhouses for disposing of the waste to. Yeah modern stuff has come along and some of it is nice but it has made a bunch of ******* out of men these days too. 
Josh Smith reply :
I have a bunch of Dad's old spinnerbaits -- all of them, I think. They're worthless! I can't burn 'em without them layin' over and jumpin' outta the water! ?
Josh
S. Sass reply :
On 3/26/2016 at 11:52 AM, Josh Smith said:I have a bunch of Dad's old spinnerbaits -- all of them, I think. They're worthless! I can't burn 'em without them layin' over and jumpin' outta the water! ?
Josh
The baits probably work just fine as has been stated elsewhere the 90 mph reels of today were not what those baits were designed to be fished with. They didn't exist. Slow down and let the bait do its thing.
Catt reply :
Quite simple ya young whipper snapper!
We used our brains
I knew more about structure fishing back in 1970 than most do today!
Josh Smith reply :
But then the bass won't eat 'em! Too slow and I'll just catch crappie.
?
Josh
Silas reply :
At 73, I suppose I'm one of the "old guys".
As a youngster we fished for food. I was so poor that if I didn't catch fish that day, we might not eat. We were "dropshotting" when I was 8. We were "flipping " when I was 16. And we were "Ned Rigging" when I was 17.
Funny how all those were "invented" by the pros. We had no names for those techniques but just knew what worked.
Your BRAIN is your most important piece of equipment
if you thought for yourself more and not just follow the "pros" advice, you might discover somethings that work really well
Carry on, Young Bloods!!
Catt reply :
On 3/26/2016 at 12:13 PM, Silas said:At 73, I suppose I'm one of the "old guys".
As a youngster we fished for food. I was so poor that if I didn't catch fish that day, we might not eat. We were "dropshotting" when I was 8. We were "flipping " when I was 16. And we were "Ned Rigging" when I was 17.
Funny how all those were "invented" by the pros. We had no names for those techniques but just knew what worked.
Your BRAIN is your most important piece of equipment
if you thought for yourself more and not just follow the "pros" advice, you might discover somethings that work really well
Carry on, Young Bloods!!
Another Old Guy 69 year old Rick Clunn once said about lures & techniques, "everything old will become new again!".
papajoe222 reply :
Along with reel gear ratios getting faster, so have many of the newer lures and presentations. Even for slower presentations, a faster reel can equate to more casts/fish.
The other thing to consider is that to us old farts, catching is only part of the enjoyment of fishing. Only by slowing down will you discover the true joy of the experience grasshopper.
Josh Smith reply :
There are so many not touching this... ?
Josh
Raul reply :
On 3/26/2016 at 11:05 AM, greentrout said:
The old Mitchell 300 is responsible for a lot of LMB being caught. My dad gave me one and I used what I had at the time and thoroughly enjoyed it. Caught a few, too.
Son of a gun, that reel looks remarkably familiar ......... just can seem to remember where or .....when, memories are blurry. 
On 3/26/2016 at 12:11 PM, Catt said:Quite simple ya young whipper snapper!
We used our brains
I knew more about structure fishing back in 1970 than most do today!
Dang, and I thought it was witchraft or " luck "
Catt reply :
On 3/26/2016 at 11:52 AM, Josh Smith said:I have a bunch of Dad's old spinnerbaits -- all of them, I think. They're worthless! I can't burn 'em without them layin' over and jumpin' outta the water! ?
Josh
Here's where old age & experience can teach you something!
It's called "tuning" like ya would a crank bait!
Hold the spinnerbait with the line tie facing you, look at the blade arm, is it inline with hook? If not twist it till it is!
Take the spinnerbait in your hand & bend both arms closer together!
Dang that was hard
Josh Smith reply :
Naw, those old spinnerbaits are obsolete. I'll have to buy a bunch of new ones without so much lift.
All my reels are high speed. They even say so:
Way too fast for anything old.
Josh
Raul reply :
On 3/27/2016 at 12:03 AM, Josh Smith said:Naw, those old spinnerbaits are obsolete. I'll have to buy a bunch of new ones without so much lift.
All my reels are high speed. They even say so:
Way too fast for anything old.
Josh
Oh yeah, that´s what the sticker says: "high speed".
On 3/26/2016 at 12:13 PM, Silas said:At 73, I suppose I'm one of the "old guys".
As a youngster we fished for food. I was so poor that if I didn't catch fish that day, we might not eat. We were "dropshotting" when I was 8. We were "flipping " when I was 16. And we were "Ned Rigging" when I was 17.
Funny how all those were "invented" by the pros. We had no names for those techniques but just knew what worked.
Your BRAIN is your most important piece of equipment
if you thought for yourself more and not just follow the "pros" advice, you might discover somethings that work really well
Carry on, Young Bloods!!
Forgot "shakeyheading" at 19
0119 reply :
Don't knock that shaken' hand. My buddy's palsy puts a unique twitching in his zara spook. He can draw a hawg up from the deep in the high noon sun to slam that sucker when ain't nobody catching fish.
BassWhole! reply :
I've caught bass in Central America with a hand line, not sure what ratio that would be. Equipment needs to be functional, anything else is just gravy. Also, many o fthe older reels had spools with larger diameters, making the IPT of a lower ratio higher.
tstraub reply :
I'm pretty sure hand line is 1:1 the line moves exactly the same amount as your hand.
Fishin' Fool reply :
On 3/26/2016 at 8:22 AM, Fishin' Fool said:Remember that the REALLY old guys used to catch them on cane poles. For you youngsters that is string tied to a stick!
And your grandpappies grandpappy used to use a sharp stick like a spear to fill out his limit. They couldn't cull back then though
.ghoti. reply :
On 3/26/2016 at 9:49 AM, tstraub said:Exactly, and if they ever televise jug fishing we'll see the pros telling us why a Prairie Farms milk jug is better than a Deans. And when to use a full gallon , 1/2 gallon, or really lighten up and go with the 1 quart to really finesse jug fish.
That's the funniest thing I've seen here in a while. Well played.
ogarza reply :
Man, talk about over-thinking fishing.
My favorite way to catch LMB is with some fishing like wound around a soda can, you basically twirl it around in the air and let go, pointing the can forward, similar to a spinning reel, then you use your dominant hand to work the bait, and then 'reel it in' by circling your hands so that the line is wound clockwise, you will feel EVERYTHING, when you get a bite, put the can down and use both hands to bring in the fish.
It is super easy and super fun, no need for any fancy rigs, a simple worm and hook and and a stone tied to the line will get you a ton of fish. BTW, I also just used matches to repair worms until they were literally half the length.
I started using baitcasting combos since I was like 6 and when I was 10 or so I had switched completely to hand fishing on freshwater, in about a year my dad started asking me how to do it because I was out-fishing almost constantly while we were on the same boat.
Edit - You can use an empty plastic bottle instead of a soda can, and store weights, hooks, worms, nail clippers, and a small lighter inside and you have a complete combo for fishing.
kickerfish1 reply :
I recall some Daiwa Pro caster reels that I had back in the 90s labeled "High Speed" with a gear ratio of 5.0:1. Sometimes slower gear ratio's can help guys that have a tendency to fish fast slow down some. On the flip side if you are using a real fast gear ratio by modern standards you have to be careful not to move the bait to fast.
I have used ultra slow and ultra fast gear ratios for soft plastics. Personally, I know I have to make a conscious effort to pay attention to what I am using but both will work.
0119 reply :
On 3/27/2016 at 3:07 AM, ogarza said:Man, talk about over-thinking fishing.
Yeah but the fish has a brain the size of a dried up pea! They can be a cunning adversary.....
Maxximus Redneckus reply :
On 3/26/2016 at 8:29 AM, Kevin22 said:I don't know what to tell you other than the old timers I see around here "stuck in their ways" are lucky to catch 1-2 fish a day when most others are catching 50-60. I don't think I've ever seen myself getting out fished by these types of people. They sure do brag about the good ol days of catching 100-200 bass a day. Don't get me wrong, we've both had tough days and were equal.. but when the fish are willing to bite, they fall prey to the new age baits and techniques and ignore the old school lures.
Are fish smarter or what? I don't know, they must be evolving and adapting to the predators (fisherman) on heavily pressured water.
Most likley but not always this is correct....1 or 2 a day for food and most likley them 1or 2 weigh more then the 50 dinks that took all day to catch.then again im kinda sure quality over quantity wins again
Goose52 reply :
On 3/26/2016 at 10:41 PM, Josh Smith said:There are so many not touching this... ?
Josh
I'm 63 and I'm not touching this....
This is a "winter-type" thread when folks got lots of time to talk while they stare at hard water. Well, it's spring and the bite is on...no time for this kinda thread at all...
The old-guy scores today...of course, at a blazing 23 IPT...
WPCfishing reply :
On 3/26/2016 at 8:47 AM, Josh Smith said:Then why to the pros say it is?
Times were different then, we fished differently and with fewer options, we adapted..
iabass8 reply :
I didn't realize the retirement home let so many out on furlough at once
Florida Cracker2 reply :
Hahaha...funny thread. I'm still struggling to learn to slow down my retreave. I got a hi-speed baitcaster and should have got the low-speed. It is soooo hard to learn to slooooow down. The lure just about skies across the water when I fish...LOL.
I am a semi-old timer...not too old...but old enough to remember old stuff. 
And bass do love a minnow on a cane pole and a bobber.
And as for the resistance theory...take out the slow ones and the faster, smarter ones will be left to reproduce. Then you have super-bass able to leap tall building with a single bound.
Molay1292 reply :
I heard it from a good source that they sit around and moaned, groaned and complained about stupid new Nylon line, super fast 5.3:1 fishing reels with 3 bearings when bushing were just fine, dang new carbon rods, with guides that don't grove and crazy long 6'6" lengths, stupid boats with 150 horse motors and 18ft long, darn gas is .55 a gallon. The fish could not take it anymore and just jumped in the boat.
hoosierbass07 reply :
On 3/26/2016 at 7:42 AM, Josh Smith said:
How did anyone ever fish fast enough to make bass strike? I thought a minimum of 5.3:1 was necessary, with 6.3:1 to 8:1 being preferred. What if the bass ran the boat, too? Help explain this to me!
How was this done?
You've probably been brain washed like most of us (to a certain extent) by the fishing companies that tell you over and over you must have fifty different reels, fifty different rods, change your line daily, must have a $50,000 bass boat with $10,000 or more in electronics, if you want to be "successful" at catching big bass. How many "old timers" had or could afford one rod or two for all their fishing? That "one rod to do it all" is what the fishing companies don't want to ever hear.
PitchinJigz reply :
On 3/26/2016 at 8:49 AM, Scott F said:The pros say what their sponsors tell them to say.
This is true, however faster reels do help you cover water, pick up slack, and get fish to the boat faster. That's just matter of fact.
Catt reply :
On 3/27/2016 at 10:24 AM, PitchinJigz said:This is true, however faster reels do help you cover water, pick up slack, and get fish to the boat faster. That's just matter of fact.
I got an open back seat ya wanna prove that?
Maxximus Redneckus reply :
On 3/27/2016 at 12:01 PM, Catt said:
On 3/27/2016 at 10:24 AM, PitchinJigz said:This is true, however faster reels do help you cover water, pick up slack, and get fish to the boat faster. That's just matter of fact.
Pickin up slack yuup but ....line stretch (LOL)will hamper the bringing fish in faster and covering lotsa of water with a buzzbait thats all i can think of with a fast reel.i bought a 8.1 lews for one thing a triwing buzz bait reel .ill let ya know how the other stuff works
new2BC4bass reply :
My reel was a Mitchell 300 for many years. No idea what gear ratio it was or IPT. Didn't matter anyway. None of that was critical when you were fishing crabs (crawfish or crawdads to some people), nightwalkers, leeches, grubs or minnows. Was probably 10 years later that I used my first artificial lure. I never heard of "gear ratio" or "IPT" back then so I still didn't know the specs on my 300.
desmobob reply :
On 3/26/2016 at 11:05 AM, greentrout said:
The old Mitchell 300 is responsible for a lot of LMB being caught. My dad gave me one and I used what I had at the time and thoroughly enjoyed it. Caught a few, too.
I got out my old 300 (and 308 and 310) a few years ago. I figured I'd clean and lube them and put them on a couple of "extra" spinning rods I had accumulated. They felt pretty sluggish and I was thinking they were probably full of half/dried grease. Well, after a very careful cleaning, flushing, and re-lubing, they felt only very slightly less sluggish. ;-)
We sure are blessed with the incredible modern reels we fish with these days! (And the incredible rods, lines, super-sharp hooks, dependable outboards, space-age electronics, etc., etc., etc.)
My father's favorite fishing rig was a handline of green cord on a nice little red wooden frame. He preferred it to the steel baitcasting rod and horrible reel he had.
Tight lines,
Bob
Bluebasser86 reply :
I use to worm fish with a 3.8:1 Lew's that was given to me by a friend of my dad. I caught plenty of fish with it but I had lots of time when I'd set the hook and immediately have several feet of slack line despite reeling like a madman to try to keep up with the fish.
I tried fishing with an extremely old Pfluegar round baitcaster that still has the silk line on it several years ago. I had to pull line off the reel and try to do a clumsy underhand flip with the short, metal rod. I had a couple bites but never did manage to catch a fish. It's a was a very eyeopening experience to how nice we have it.
desmobob reply :
On 3/27/2016 at 1:22 PM, Bluebasser86 said:I tried fishing with an extremely old Pfluegar round baitcaster that still has the silk line on it several years ago. I had to pull line off the reel and try to do a clumsy underhand flip with the short, metal rod. I had a couple bites but never did manage to catch a fish. It's a was a very eyeopening experience to how nice we have it.
I have an old South Bend bait caster that has an automatic braking system. It has a small spring-loaded wire bail in front of the level-winder that the line passes over. When there is tension on the line (like in when casting), the bail is held down and the brakes are released. When the tension is relieved and the spring pushes the bail back up, the brakes go on. I thought this was pretty darn clever and must work perfectly. I gave it a try and wasn't all that impressed. :-)
Tight lines,
Bob
PitchinJigz reply :
On 3/27/2016 at 12:01 PM, Catt said:I got an open back seat ya wanna prove that?
My point was that mechanically a reel with a higher gear ratio will bring in more line. That's not really arguable. That does not mean people who use lower gear ratio reels (I'm assuming you're in this group) are disadvantaged, they just may have to work a little harder.
0119 reply :
Seems like a lot of fun has been lost by a lot of folks who like that other thread noted, over think things. If while fishing, I am measuring my time, my time!....by measuring inches of retrieve and judging that as wasted time....... I'm gonna have to stop fishing. Its that darn american competition bu()$^&. Only a country that takes kindergarten kids play and turns it into a trillion dollar business that makes 'heros' out of drug addicts......can take fishing and turn it into a bunch of rednecks turned frenzied technology obsessed speed freaks chasing each other to fishin' holes at 70mph, catch a 2# fish and then let it go without even the notion of eating it.
roadwarrior reply :
Funny how much things have changed. Catch & release is at the top of my list. "Back in the day" we fried just about everything we caught. When I opened the box on Christmas and saw my very own Zebco 33 I knew I had arrived. Plus it came spooled with free line!
Catt reply :
On 3/27/2016 at 2:25 PM, PitchinJigz said:My point was that mechanically a reel with a higher gear ratio will bring in more line. That's not really arguable. That does not mean people who use lower gear ratio reels (I'm assuming you're in this group) are disadvantaged, they just may have to work a little harder.
My point is catching bass aint a race to see whose lure gets back to the rod tip first!
This high speed reel crowd are of the same mind set as the old run-n-gun crowd or the old spray-n-pray mind set in the military...put enough rounds down field ya gotta hit something!
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
The secret formula hasn't changed. Be where the bass are and present a bait at the right depth and action. The trick is realizing habitats change which triggers changes in behavior for bait and bass. Too many fish the same holes on the same lakes for 30 yrs and expect the same results.
iabass8 reply :
On 3/27/2016 at 12:01 PM, Catt said:I got an open back seat ya wanna prove that?
Lighten up Francis. Nobody is implying you can't still catch more/bigger fish than everybody in the world. He doesn't need to go on a boat to prove that to you. I'll do it for you. All things equal, 30 IPT comes in faster than 24 IPT. He wasn't taking a shot at your manhood or implying that you can't catch fish using "inferior" slower reels. He was simply stating that having a reel that comes in faster is nice and allows you to cover water quicker. Can you with your reels cover more water efficiently than a 12 year old /w the latest and greatest? Obviously. If you put the same rod/reel in a clone side by side and they do the exact same thing next to each other throughout the day, the person /w the faster gear ratio will cover more water easier /w a faster pick up. That's all he's implying...a faster gear ratio is a nice luxury.
crypt reply :
wow this is one funny thread,first how did "old guys" catch fish? with slow reels,then only new lures and techniques will catch fish today.oh my this is funny.
0119 reply :
On 3/27/2016 at 11:23 PM, iabass8 said:the person /w the faster gear ratio will cover more water easier /w a faster pick up.
A faster reel is faster. no duh
This statement though makes the argument complete. The thing is....why do people think that covering more water catches more fish? A vast majority of all the water is plain empty. Void of life. Thinking that getting to the next target in structure 1/10th of a second quicker than the other guy doesn't make up for knowledge, ability, second sight or whatever you want to call it. The opposite side of that argument is covering all that water doesn't get you more or bigger fish. The 1/10th of a second you are gaining on the slower angler doesn't achieve you anything in reality. Well it does get you two things. A weaker geared reel that isn't as smooth and has less life span. And an emptier wallet because you fell for the man's marketing hype.
iabass8 reply :
On 3/28/2016 at 1:32 AM, 119 said:A faster reel is faster. no duh
This statement though makes the argument complete. The thing is....why do people think that covering more water catches more fish? A vast majority of all the water is plain empty. Void of life. Thinking that getting to the next target in structure 1/10th of a second quicker than the other guy doesn't make up for knowledge, ability, second sight or whatever you want to call it. The opposite side of that argument is covering all that water doesn't get you more or bigger fish. The 1/10th of a second you are gaining on the slower angler doesn't achieve you anything in reality. Well it does get you two things. A weaker geared reel that isn't as smooth and has less life span. And an emptier wallet because you fell for the man's marketing hype.
What you may be failing to realize is that a lot of the profeasional anglers "pushing a higher gear ratio as the greatest thing" are doing so in context of tournament angling. More pitches/casts/flips throughout the day means you are coveribg more warer thus resulting in more of an opportunity to run into a school of fish. Going to new bodies of water that you arent familiar with is where this is beneficial. The guy that has fished the same body of water 5 days a wrrk for the past 30 years wont see this. People that fish just for fun or have no desire to compete can get this idea that misconstrued when KVD says 8:1 is the new 6:3 when in reality it will make almost no difference in a person fishing abilitiy if they are just out there enjoying the day. Obviously a lot of this is marketing. They're trying to cater to the average angler with the allure of professional fishing. They have to. This is a business and without joe buying the newest and best, we wouldnt be able to grow. Anybody with half a brain can see that and know what to ignore.
0119 reply :
No that's exactly what I realize. Fishing, angling has been turned into a sport that has nothing to do with the fish. Only numbers. It's now one upping another guy. Compete compete compete.
*Hootie reply :
If you are referring to the old guys of today, we were young guys then. We caught them the same way you young guys catch them now. Some form of cast and retrieve. The old guys of the old days are probably no longer here, so we can't ask them. I guess we'll just never know....lol.
Hootie
Goose52 reply :
On 3/28/2016 at 2:23 AM, *Hootie said:If you are referring to the old guys of today, we were young guys then. We caught them the same way you young guys catch them now. Some form of cast and retrieve. The old guys of the old days are probably no longer here, so we can't ask them. I guess we'll just never know....lol.
Hootie
I don't know if my Dad, who is 93, qualifies as an "old guy of the old days"...but if he does, I can tell you exactly how he caught many of his bass. It wasn't burning a spinnerbait, crankbait, or whatever with a 36 IPT reel...it was by putting a pretty hefty hook through the back of a brim or shiner, pushing the clutch button on his trusty 3.8:1 geared Ambassadeur 5000, and chucking that brim or shiner into likely spots where bass hang out. Then he'd wait for a big 'ole bass to come along...
He used a baitcasting reel to, well, cast bait. When working plugs, he generally used a spinning rod which back then would often have a higher IPT than the BC reels of the day.
For him, fishing was about obtaining food and having a relaxing day. It wasn't about speed, competition, maximizing yield by "covering water." Those seem to be mostly more modern (post-1970) concepts originating in tournament angling.
What has been somewhat lost is that fishing is about more than catching...or at least it used to be...
Catt reply :
On 3/27/2016 at 11:23 PM, iabass8 said:Lighten up Francis. Nobody is implying you can't still catch more/bigger fish than everybody in the world. He doesn't need to go on a boat to prove that to you. I'll do it for you. All things equal, 30 IPT comes in faster than 24 IPT. He wasn't taking a shot at your manhood or implying that you can't catch fish using "inferior" slower reels. He was simply stating that having a reel that comes in faster is nice and allows you to cover water quicker. Can you with your reels cover more water efficiently than a 12 year old /w the latest and greatest? Obviously. If you put the same rod/reel in a clone side by side and they do the exact same thing next to each other throughout the day, the person /w the faster gear ratio will cover more water easier /w a faster pick up. That's all he's implying...a faster gear ratio is a nice luxury.
Lighten up .Francis!
"inferior" slower reels!
I think ya need to re-read you post & tell me who needs to lighten up?
So your reel pickup 6" more line, what's that get ya? Nothing!
Covering more water faster gets ya nothing but wore out!
Covering water throughly & effectively put fish in the boat!
iabass8 reply :
On 3/28/2016 at 3:39 AM, Catt said:
I think ya need to re-read you post & tell me who needs to lighten up?
I'm not the one who seemingly takes it as a shot to my fishing manhood when somebody posts something that you don't agree with.....so...yeah, lighten up.
On 3/28/2016 at 3:39 AM, Catt said:
So your reel pickup 6" more line, what's that get ya? Nothing!
Is that a serious question? It gets my bait back to me quicker. I'm not trying to be rude or argumentative but this isn't rocket science and a very basic concept to understand. If person A and Person B are soaking a bait slow in a small laydown for the same amount of time, my bait is getting back to me quicker and allowing me to move along the laydown and fish more spots throughout the day while having my bait in the water more than person B.....You both are fishing slow but if my bait is getting back to me quicker (regardless if it's just a few seconds, if you add that up to an 8 hour day, it's significant) I'm fishing more than you.
On 3/28/2016 at 3:39 AM, Catt said:
Covering more water faster gets ya nothing but wore out!
Covering water throughly & effectively put fish in the boat!
Exactly...again, all things equal, the person that gets the bait BACK TO THE BOAT quicker is covering more water.
Catt reply :
On 3/28/2016 at 3:53 AM, iabass8 said:I'm not the one who seemingly takes it as a shot to my fishing manhood when somebody posts something that you don't agree with.....so...yeah, lighten up.
Is that a serious question? It gets my bait back to me quicker. I'm not trying to be rude or argumentative but this isn't rocket science and a very basic concept to understand. If person A and Person B are soaking a bait slow in a small laydown for the same amount of time, my bait is getting back to me quicker and allowing me to move along the laydown and fish more spots throughout the day while having my bait in the water more than person B.....You both are fishing slow but if my bait is getting back to me quicker (regardless if it's just a few seconds, if you add that up to an 8 hour day, it's significant) I'm fishing more than you.
Exactly...again, all things equal, the person that gets the bait BACK TO THE BOAT quicker is covering more water.
It's not rocket science!
Covering water quickly in no way shape or form equates to catching fish!
It also seems to me you think someone is taking a shot at your manhood because you keep bringing the subject,
So yea Felicia lighten up!
iabass8 reply :
On 3/28/2016 at 6:26 AM, Catt said:It's not rocket science!
Covering water quickly in no way shape or form equates to catching fish!
It also seems to me you think someone is taking a shot at your manhood because you keep bringing the subject,
So yea Felicia lighten up!
I'm not sure what you don't understand. I was of the impression you had some sort of a background in which a basic understanding of mathematics were a requirement. Maybe not. If person A and Person B are fishing identically except person B gets his bait back to the boat quicker. At the end of the day Person A and Person B have fished the exact same areas, the exact same way, /w the exact same bait but Person B is able to make more casts/pitches and fish more because his bait is getting back to him quicker. Pretty basic stuff. This is level 1 mathematics.
Your Felicia reference is used incorrectly.
Scott F reply :
On 3/28/2016 at 7:08 AM, iabass8 said:I'm not sure what you don't understand. I was of the impression you had some sort of a background in which a basic understanding of mathematics were a requirement. Maybe not. If person A and Person B are fishing identically except person B gets his bait back to the boat quicker. At the end of the day Person A and Person B have fished the exact same areas, the exact same way, /w the exact same bait but Person B is able to make more casts/pitches and fish more because his bait is getting back to him quicker. Pretty basic stuff. This is level 1 mathematics.
Your Felicia reference is used incorrectly.
Are you automatically assuming that bass will always strike a faster moving bait more often then they will strike a slower moving bait? Come jerkbait fishing with me when the water is cold. You can make 10 times as many casts as I do, but you won't catch near as many smallmouth as I will.
iabass8 reply :
On 3/28/2016 at 7:33 AM, Scott F said:Are you automatically assuming that bass will always strike a faster moving bait more often then they will strike a slower moving bait? Come jerkbait fishing with me when the water is cold. You can make 10 times as many casts as I do, but you won't catch near as many smallmouth as I will.
Jesus, ....how are both of you missing the point. I have no idea how I can make this any more clear. I stated I believe 3 times that if ALL THINGS WERE EQUAL. I'll say it agian, ALL THINGS EQUAL( this means that Person A and Person B are doing THE EXACT SAME THING ALL DAY), the person that is getting their bait back to them faster has the advantage because he gets to fish MORE WATER EVERY TIME. In no way shape or form am I saying or even insinuating that one angler is fishing faster than the other because that would mean that all things were not equal. Person A and Person B are doing the exact same thing throughout the day. Each and every time this happens Person B is catching and fishing the exact same fish and areas as Person A but Person B gets to fish more areas/water because he gets his bait back to him faster.
Scott F reply :
So the only difference is, when you give up on the cast, you'll rip the bait in faster, so you can make another cast before a guy with a slower reel. If you'd have said it that way in the first place, it would have saved a lot of time.
iabass8 reply :
On 3/28/2016 at 8:05 AM, Scott F said:So the only difference is, when you give up on the cast, you'll rip the bait in faster, so you can make another cast before a guy with a slower reel. If you'd have said it that way in the first place, it would have saved a lot of time.
I did...3 different times.
On 3/28/2016 at 7:08 AM, iabass8 said:. If person A and Person B are fishing identically except person B gets his bait back to the boat quicker. At the end of the day Person A and Person B have fished the exact same areas, the exact same way, /w the exact same bait but Person B is able to make more casts/pitches and fish more because his bait is getting back to him quicker. Pretty basic stuff. This is level 1 mathematics.
On 3/27/2016 at 11:23 PM, iabass8 said:If you put the same rod/reel in a clone side by side and they do the exact same thing next to each other throughout the day, the person /w the faster gear ratio will cover more water easier /w a faster pick up. That's all he's implying...a faster gear ratio is a nice luxury.
On 3/28/2016 at 3:53 AM, iabass8 said:
If person A and Person B are soaking a bait slow in a small laydown for the same amount of time, my bait is getting back to me quicker and allowing me to move along the laydown and fish more spots throughout the day while having my bait in the water more than person B.....You both are fishing slow but if my bait is getting back to me quicker (regardless if it's just a few seconds, if you add that up to an 8 hour day, it's significant) I'm fishing more than you.
Florida Cracker2 reply :
WOW!!! Tone down the testosterone guys. Cain't we just get along? hahaha
Earlier today after reading the posts in this thread I decided to try some old-school techniques. So I grabbed a beetle-spin and walked out to the creek and right away hooked a nice bass. He got hung up in the peppertree branches and broke off. 
I was using a single ball bearing spinning reel. If it had 50 bearings, I would have landed him. NOT!
I do like hi speed when your sneaking up to the bank and casting about 10 feet away and want to reel the lure fast with a rod lift and get the lure clear of the bank. And also after you loose a strike and want to reel in super fast and fire it back to the spot. Other than that, hi speed is just annoying after years of slow speed reel usage. Like I said earlier, slowing down is hard after so much time reeling a certain way. I have developed a reel once, jerk, reel method that just seems to really work with jerkbaits like mirror lures. Anyways...thats just my worthless .02.
Jeff H reply :
If you guys all got together one night in a conference room for a fish fry and fellowship, would you waste this much time on this trivial subject? LOL....this is fun to read though, I'll say that!
Florida Cracker2 reply :
On 3/28/2016 at 9:16 AM, Jeff H said:If you guys all got together one night in a conference room for a fish fry and fellowship, would you waste this much time on this trivial subject? LOL....this is fun to read though, I'll say that!
It would turn into a brawl...
Jeff H reply :
On 3/28/2016 at 9:40 AM, Florida Cracker2 said:It would turn into a brawl...
Maybe, but I kinda doubt it. I bet this kind of conversation is non existent at the BR Road Trip events....but I could be wrong. 
Maxximus Redneckus reply :
I been catchin bass slow for 39 yrs .once and a while i will speed up a lure to bring it over a snag then let it drop.i bought a 8.1 reel to see how fast a triwing buzzbait can move and be effective has nothing to do with covering lots of water or slack line.some ppl say unproductive water i for one have seen bass smash a spinnerbait or superfluke in 1 foot of water many times that looked unproductive.and i was pulling lure up to cast again.so now regardless of what it looks like i assume all water is productive
greentrout reply :
Caught a lot on the old Rebel minnow.
offsidewing reply :
These threads offer the best kind of people watching...
A part of me dies every time I watch my 68 year old dad try to sweep hook a jig in 25 feet of water with 5'6" MM rod and a Daiwa Gold Cup. His hand is just cranking away trying to take up the line like his grandson water skiing a Blue Gill back to the dock with a Lightning McQueen combo. When he misses the hookset He swears its his fault and not the gear. That was me until a couple years ago.
We've fished the same glistening lake teaming w/ smallmouth for 30 years (50 for him). I've caught more fish in the last two years than I have my entire life after switching to modern gear. Now that I know better, I'm sucking up slack line and setting a hook with the flick of the wrist in an instant.
Running cranks I still use a slower reel. Heck, I'll sling a Jointed Rebel on Zebco Omega. But when it comes to sucking up slack line ASAP, its a high IPT for me. Not sure how them old timers fished Senkos or the Ned Rig in the 60's, but it has to be easier with a higher IPT reel (spool size notwithstanding). *sarcasm font*
Funny how different this converation changes when you talk golf clubs or computers in the work place...
Maxximus Redneckus reply :
I follow ppl on bassboats often.in my kayak im far from fast.most times if not all the time they are fishing fast boat moving fast and they are casting and reeling fast .and i catch fish they miss quite often.slow works for me but i see fast dont work for everyone.
GetJigginWithIt reply :
On 3/26/2016 at 11:50 AM, S. Sass said:Sampo ball bearings, awesome!!! Love the old school baits etc.
Old men never caught any fish. We just went hungry that night.
Wow ha ha ha love it.
.ghoti. reply :
This beagn as an interesting thread, which then degenerated into a whizzing contest.
All I have to say about that is:
NOT IN MY TOWN!!
related Fishing Rods Reels Line Knots topic
most viewed Fishing Rods Reels Line Knots topic
© 2024 - fishing.qciss.net. All Rights Reserved.