Recreational Angler vs. Competitive 2024

jwo1124 reply :

I have a feeling there are a bunch of either type of this forum. I myself have yet to enter a fishing tournament, and don't really feel the urge to do so. I've never been very competitive, but have felt the need to live up to my own potential opposed to living above someone elses. ANyway, that is niether here nor there, but I would liek to touch on there differnces in the needs of each type of angler. For example, I do not make any money from fishing, there for I really can't justify putting a lot of money into it. I will admit I have been influenced by the bait monkey here and there, but I would like to get a control over it and be rational.

I only speak for myself here, but I start bass fishing around mid-may. This is the time in MA when spring is in full run, things are blooming, weather is warming, days are getting longer, etc. being shore bound for most of my fishing expeditions leaves me with less time to bass fish than boaters, due to the fact that i can only fish the shallows surrounding the bank of the ponds I fish. On average I will fish 1-3 times a week for about 3-4 hours each outing.

For anglers like myself, it just seems down right foolish to have 4-6 rods, some being technique specifc, just for recreationaly fishing loacl ponds for bass. Sure, I want to get the most out of my time fishing, I don;t go to the ponds just to watch the birds. I want to get at least a couple fish each time I go, and hopefully break my PB. This leads me to thinking since I am fishing for bass an average of 8-12 hours a week (I spend time fishing the migrating stripers, which seems to run parallel with Largemouth season) I am not going to need the same gear as the next guy who is fishing from a fully loaded bass boat 4-5 days a week practicing for the upcoming club tourney. His expectations are going to be more than mine. As I said I would liek to get at least a couple, he is looking for a heavy 5 bass limit. Plus he is fishing deeper water than me so maybe he needs a heavy crankin stick and a drop shot rod, both which do me no good fishing shallow water around the pond bank.

I just wanted to bring this up so others would know how to approach an answer to a post.

I think my needs would be met with 3 set ups. One spinning set up: one spool of 8 or 10# and another with 6#, this should be good for lighter lures and finesse tactics, or on windy days. One MH/F baicaster with either 14# mono, or braind w/ a fluro leader: this should cover most applications such as jigs/plastics, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits(the only reason I said braid w/ fluro would be for flippin heavy cover or working a frog) and one M/M baicasting Crankbait stick with 12# mono: cover almost all cranks, jerkbaits, and topwaters.

That's about $300 for three nice mid-grade outfits. Match this with a good arsenal of basic tackle I'll need like spinnerbaits and buzzbaits in a few colors and a couple sizes, some shallow and medium cranks, various topwaters(walkers, popprs, frogs), some jigs, some plastics and terminal tackle; and we're looking at about $500-600 total. This gear should last a few seasons, taking into acoutn the lures you will lose.

First off, since I mainly fish from shore it's hard to carry around more than 2-3 rods, and when I'm not I'm in a cramped 12' aluminum dingy and carrying more than 2-3 rods there is going to result in a lot of banged around gear possibly getting broken or falling overboard.

I'm sure once I get out of college and get a full time career I'll have more capital to support my fishing as a hobby or a sport depending on which path I take. For now though, even though I have years of fishing under my belt, I'm still just learning the ropes. I think the three outfits I name will be good enough for me now and any other recreational basser who is looking for minimal damage to their bank accounts with out compromising a lot of catching results. This will also leave me with money to purchase some some nice striper gear too, and posibbly have some money left over in my checking account.

Matt Fly reply :

I'm casual and very competitive, but to elaborate on the need for an extra rod as a casual fishermen.

First off, catching crappie on a bass rod offers no challenge. So I have some 4 foot ultra lites with 4# test. Works great for whites, rainbow, and other pan fish. Ultra lite makes for a nice fight.

Seems to me on Fork earlier this season, i saw guys puting up their 300 dollar rods and busting out the snoopy rods for our night crappie fishing off the docks during the Bass Resource get together on Fork. LOL

Lots of reasons to have different tools to go fishing. I don't use my bass reels in Salt, but do have some Penns.

Does an artists that paints for a hobby only limit his passion to one brush, one color? Does a mechanic have only one size of sockets? 3/8 or 1/4 or 1/2. Some of those brushes are very expensive, it depends on a few things. What type wood the handle is made from and what type of hair used in making the brush.

What about a photographer, do you expect him to use one lense, one filter?

I think you can see that it depends on how deep your passion runs. Also, that guy may have taken over 10 years to put all that tackle together. I still have reels that are from the 70's that are used.

I have old abu garcia for worming, and a shimano limited edition 1000, engraved. Some of that tackle was my moms who passed, so it means alot, and probably could be replaced, but that isn't gonna happen.

Raul reply :

I 'm a strictly recreational angler, the only competition I have is myself. I can easily fish with one rod and reel and a few baits and catch fish, but on the other hand I think about my gear as tools for a job and if I can afford them and carry them then I see no reason why I shouldn 't have a tool for each job besides the fact that I just love to purchase stuff, I get pleasure out of purchasing it, I get pleasure out of seeeing it, my imagination skyrockets when I stare at my stuff ( I envision me catching fish with it ) and that daydream also privides me with a great deal of pleasure, I get pleasure out of fishing with my stuff and if it happens that I catch fish with it well that 's the cherry on top of the pie.

The answer is: whatever pleases you, after all, it 's your money.

farmpond1 reply :

How much gear a person has is obviously an individual choice. There are those who can't seem to be happy unless they have every lure/rod/reel in every make/model/color and there are others content to drown a nightcrawler down at the city lake. For those of us who reside in the "real world" and who haven't (yet) succumbed completely to the addiction, we try to find a balance. Which, it sounds to me, you've sought to do and which works well for you. For those who are addicted, seek help. ;D

I've fished only one tournament (as a guest-my friend's regular partner bailed on him). It was kind of fun but when I saw the "winner" bring in a bunch of dead fish (the rules in this tourney were apparently pretty loose), it changed my opinion a little. Not that I am opposed to tournaments. I certainly don't wish to ruin someones livelihood. But whenever greed can become a factor, there will always be abuses. I fish because it's fun. When it stops being fun (or corrupts me too much), I'll stop fishing.

roadwarrior reply :

Here is a thread running along those same lines:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1196114229

With regard to tackle, a lot of us just like to collect it, just "have it", look at it and rearrange the stuff on occasion. I only fish a few lures in any class (technique), at least 75% of my stuff has never been fished, may never be used. I have GYCB grubs that I bought in 1997, rigged in a "ready box" that I still plan to fish...someday.

Raul reply :

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For those who are addicted, seek help. ;D

What for ?!? :-? I enjoy every minute of it.

Lucky Craft Man reply :

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I 'm a strictly recreational angler, the only competition I have is myself. I can easily fish with one rod and reel and a few baits and catch fish, but on the other hand I think about my gear as tools for a job and if I can afford them and carry them then I see no reason why I shouldn 't have a tool for each job besides the fact that I just love to purchase stuff, I get pleasure out of purchasing it, I get pleasure out of seeeing it, my imagination skyrockets when I stare at my stuff ( I envision me catching fish with it ) and that daydream also privides me with a great deal of pleasure, I get pleasure out of fishing with my stuff and if it happens that I catch fish with it well that 's the cherry on top of the pie.
The answer is: whatever pleases you, after all, it 's your money.

I agree 100% with Raul. I buy a lot of stuff and I enjoy just having it as much as using it. I think the limit occurs when you start buying stuff instead of feeding your family or paying your bills. I bet once you get out of college and start having disposable income, you will consider buying that nice G Loomis rod and when you do, you will be glad you did.

Redlinerobert reply :

I'm with Raul.

Tokyo Tony reply :

I love fishing lures, even just looking at them and changing the hooks for no reason, which is what I'll be doing for the next several months.

Going to Cabela's tonight for some more

Tin reply :

Ok, I'm one of the nuts that is 75% a tournament guy. From April to November I'm fishing atleast 2-3 tourneys a week and the rest of the week I'm usually pre-fishing or "paying my dues". The rare times on not doing on of the two I'm just having a good time with LBH or Matt 5.0 out fun-fishing. I have to say I really miss just being able to go out and not have to worry who has what in their well and to be where at wha time and what not. But now it is just in my blood.

I started competitive bass fishing as a sophmore in high school 4 years ago and just started living for compitition. Even before tournament fishing I was fishing 5 days a week out of a Coleman Crawdad with 3 rods and a few plano boxes of tackle. We would just cover about 200 acres of a local 600 acre pond and we learned soooooo much. I realized that when I joined thr RI Jr. Bassmaster program and I ened up winning a spot for the B.A.S.S. National Championship in 04'. When I went down to the Classic it just hit me, wow what a way to make a living! Now it is just a goal to be able to fish one Bassmaster Classic in my lifetime. And I wont let something like $$$ stand in my way. Whatever "tool" I need to ge the job done, I will buy.

Since then, I have a bought a 17' BassTracker and at any given time it probably has 8 set-ups and a minumum of $500 worth of jigs and trailers in it alone. And I absolutley love it. But there were days after a tournament I just wanted to sell my boat and quit bass fishing because in the early stages it was getting frustrating. And it seemed like I was wasting my time and money. But now I'm in a position where I am consistantley in the $$$$ in tournaments and it is just an amazing feeling. So I can spend more in on the things I need and fish higher entry fee tournaments.

Modified b/c I must have misunderstood the question. :-[

jwo1124 reply :

I think Matt Fly got the wrong idea of what I was saying. I am not using those three forementioned set ups for all my fishing, just my bass fishing. I have other UL and L rods I use for trout , as well as ML set ups I use to target stocked broodstock salmon. As I said, most of the time I am stuck on the banks of ponds, so there is only a handful of techniques I use, which I feel the three set ups I mentioned will be sufficient for. And regarding how passion ties into how much tackle someone has is ridiculous.

I have heard the analogy that rod set ups are like tools or like golf clubs and you need different clubs to execute different tasks, and to an extent that makes sense but I don't feel that is a very accurate illustration. Using three rods will be just fine to cover a broad variety of techniques, whether it be finesse fishing, cranks, spinner baits, topwater, jigs, platics or whatever. I will have the means to fish them correctly. I may not have the perfect set-up for each technique, but that is not needed. Three good set ups that will effeciently, maybe not perfectly, but effeciently execute a broad variety of bass fishing techniques is all I need for now.

I have been watching Bill Dance Outdoors for as long as I can remember and 95% of the shows I watch he is using a 6'6" Bill Dance Signature QUantumn baitcasting combo with 14# stren original line. And usually every show he is using a different lure. Now if one of the best bass fisherman in the world is usuing mainly the same exact set up for most of his bass fishing, doesn;t that tell you something. I'm sure if he was fishing a tournament he would have more than that one outfit, but he's not and niether am I. Yet, he is consistently catching bass every show.

If I had a bass boat with a large deck where I could have 6-8 rods, I probably would have 6-8 rods rigged up all with a different lure on each so I could just pick one up and go. But it's hard to carry around 6-8 rods around the bank of a pond or in a small aluminum boat with two people in it along with other tackle, a battery, oars, and anchors. So mainly my choice to only use a few set ups is somewhat based on my storage capacity while fishing as well as need based.

I am not knocking anyone who owns more gear than me, or saying that it's stupid that they do, but I just find that it isn't neccassary for me at this point in time.

I do agree with farmpond though, that some people equate more tackle with more fish, meaning that they think the more tackle that they own or take to a lake, pond, or resivior is going to mean that they are going to catch more fish, which obviously isn't true. I'm sure to be a successful bass angler, one could benefit from having technique specific set ups to maximize their benefits, just as a weight lifter would maximize their benefit by taking lots of strength enhancing supplements. But this doesn't mean that a weight lifter who doesn't take these supplements won't see benefits from their training. They may not maximize results, but then you must ask are the maximum results worth the supplementation? Or, do you need the maximun results? Back to a weight lifting analogy, if one were to train for a lean muscular beach body they would go about training and supplementing differently than someone training to be an olympic lifter or a competitive body builder.

I hope this helps clear up any misconceptions other may have on what I intended in the original post. I was trying to help out any other anglers like myself understand that you don't technique specifc set ups to have results in bass fishing. Just as a lifter doesn;t need to take supplements from GNC. If you want to supplement the bass fishing basics with things like technique specifc set ups to enhance your chances at seeing results, that's your business, and it is niether right nor wrong. Just trying to help others see through the fog that can sometimes congregate around bass angling. it seems like every time you turn around there has been another technique or lure out that "needs" it's own rod/reel set up, which is false because one set up can be used for several applications in bass fishing and execute them effectively enough to catch you bass. And I am willing to bet my bottom dollar on that statement.

Bassnajr reply :

Hey jwo

I agree about spending money....I have a wife and three daughters. They can have 12 pocket books each but me have 5 rods OH MY GOD!!!

IMO the best advice on alot of the topics you bring up can be addressed by LBH (lowbudgethookers) here in the forums. He can tell you the best ways to get the most from your bait monkey bucks and from what I hear, catches a few fish (lol)...we'll see this spring!!! LBH writes articles for the forum, has great videos, and is just a nice guy.. (OK Russ...you know where to send the money, right??) He has ideas on gear, lures, boats, just about anything fishing!!!

Fish on!!!!!

bassinajr

Popeye reply :

I personally have always considered myself an avid recreational fisherman although I always try to outfish anyone I may be out with at any given time. It's just the competitve spirit, I suppose. IF I were to win the LOTTO, I'd love to buy a super bass boat and enter tournaments for the sheer excitement, challenge, and FUN they would offer and donate any winnings/prizes to the more needy. However, I'd never want to have to rely on tournament winnings to live on. I also enjoy being able to buy whatever gear I want as long as it's not to excess. I recently bought 22 old Vibra-bat lures to have, NOT actually use because when I was a young teenager and the Vibra-bats first came on the fishing scene, I HAD to have one (magical fish catcher and all that hype). I remember going to a creek and casting my new yellow Vibra-bat over the side of a bridge we were fishing on fully expecting to catch huge fish that day. Unfortunately, my reel malfunctioned and the lure ended up smacking the bridge and breaking beyond repair. I was so disappointed and depressed! Now, I guess just having a bunch of them to look at is kinda like trying to bring back or re-live some of my cherished childhood memories. I have ALWAYS loved to fish and always will. That is pure fact. And the thrill of catching fish is as much a part of me today as it was over 52 years ago when I first wetted a line and caught my first bluegill. What a GREAT sport/hobby/obsession to have. I'd also like to say that I try to read as many of the posts as I can on this Fantastic Forum and I think all you folks are just SUPER!! I can hardly wait until I retire in a little less than 6 months so I can fish EVERY day if I want and the weather permits:o)

jwo1124 reply :

I probably should have named the post something different now that I think about it. I don't know if it's a recreation vs. competitive thing. But I do feel that guys that are more into the whole tournament trail and tournament fishing are the ones that have a different rod for every type of lure. And maybe it's jus tignorance on my part since I haven't been fishing as long as some guys here, and maybe I'll evolve into someone who has a spinnerbait rod, a jig rod, a worm rod, a flippin rod, a finesse rod, and buzzbait rod, a skippin rod, a crankbait rod, a swimbait rod, a deep crank rod, etc. It's just too much money and too much tackle for me at this point in the game.

I guess it's like sports. As a kid you have one view of playing for fun down at the park with your friends. Then you get involved in organzied town league and practice once a week, then for high school and practice every day, then once you go on from their its an all day every day thing, it seems to take over your life.

I think I'm some where in the middle there. I want more out of fishing than just tossing out a bobber hoping a hungry fish swims by, but I don;t have the mind set of the higher levels yet.

It seems I liked fishing because it was an escape from the daily grind of everyday life, but now it seems it has turned into it's own stressful grind in it's own twisted way.

Tin reply :

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But I do feel that guys that are more into the whole tournament trail and tournament fishing are the ones that have a different rod for every type of lure. And maybe it's jus tignorance on my part since I haven't been fishing as long as some guys here, and maybe I'll evolve into someone who has a spinnerbait rod, a jig rod, a worm rod, a flippin rod, a finesse rod, and buzzbait rod, a skippin rod, a crankbait rod, a swimbait rod, a deep crank rod, etc. .

You really have too have different rods for different lures and presentaions. You can give a topwater or jerkbait a lot more action on certain rods and such. So you can work certain baits better on certain rods.

There are also things you have to do with certain lakes. For example if a lake is very clear but has thick cover in certain areas I will have the same bait rigged up on two seperate rods that have different types or strength lines on them.

The other big reason is if for follow up baits. I might have a topwater on and get a short strike, so you have to have another rod ready to go with a fluke or stickbait to try get that fish that made the short strike.

It is also good to have the same bait rigged up on the another rod when fishing in lakes where smallmouth school up. If you have one on, chances are one, two, or three other smallies will follow it to the boat because they want what the other has. So you flip the initial smallie in the boat, drop another bait in as you are flipping the first and and try to get one of the other 3. It is more common than you think on certain bodies of water and it is soooooo much fun. lol

And finally, as I have mentioned before in tourneys, time is everything, so I might have the same jig rigged up on 3 different rods, just so when I'm fishing something specific and might just happen to break it off I dont need to get another one out and retie, I just pick up another rod.

fishfordollars reply :

I am competitive. I have raised my children and they are all gone. Not going to say money is no object but I buy what I want . I have the boat and tons of tackle. Within the last week I have purchased Two Curados, Two Citicas, and a Revo. All but the Revo were on either Allstar or Castaway rods(Bought used in pawn shops). Did not need any of them, just bought them for the price. 90% of the time if I am on the water I am prefishing or in a tournament. I used to fish Red Man, Bass-N-Bucks(Team & individual), bass clubs and several other tournament circuits that have come and gone. I averaged over thirty tournaments a year. Now I limit myself to clubs, big bass tournaments, and will jackpot some of the circuits as they come through. It is not for everyone, I have just been competitive all my life. It started with drag cars(Set several IHRA national records). I just thrive on the competition. Somebodys got to put these kids back in their place. They are tuff sticks and they get the swelled head a lot. Got to bring them back down to earth every now and then. One room in my home is stacked with tackle. It is crazy what I see when I sit and start trying to count everything. Doesn't matter though; the bait monkey was born and raised right here. I know without counting that I have at least 50 Plano boxes full of stuff and at least that many rod and reel combinations, many have never been fished, most never leave the house. When I leave for a tournament I will carry 12-15 rods and maybe 15-19 boxes. Most is season specific so a lot gets switched out during the year, and it depends on the type of lake I am going to fish as to what gets thrown in the boat.

Perfect example; buddy of mine and I qualified for the Texas Assoc. of Bass Clubs state championship on Lake Falcon back in September. Between us we spent over 600.00 on braided line and swimbaits and other items for the five day trip. This did not count gas, motel room, entry fees, food, or any other items that were needed. Did we need to have this? No, but we were not comfortable going down there without it and I like to think it increased our confidence. Again, this was not a national circuit. Just a bass club championship. Go figure...

jwo1124 reply :

Well looks like this thread went absolutely the worng direction it was intended to go. I was giving my opinion on not needing lots of tackle to be a successful recreational, shorebound fisherman, and obviously this was the wrong place to make such a statement, being all these bait monkeys around

Matt Fly reply :

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Well looks like this thread went absolutely the worng direction it was intended to go. I was giving my opinion on not needing lots of tackle to be a successful recreational, shorebound fisherman, and obviously this was the wrong place to make such a statement, being all these bait monkeys around

I grew up bank fishing with cane poles. I have used every zebco made. I have use two piece rods with 3 eyes and zebco and caught some dang good fish too!

I'm sorry to be long winded and passioniate about bass and fishing, not exactly in any order either. I know where you come from. I can be great co boater and take two rods, small assortment of tackle in small box. Done that been there.

This must have been a very good thread by the way. :Look how many replies it generated. It was new topic that appears to have generated alot of interest.

Hookem

Matt

George Welcome reply :

harummph >

FishinDaddy reply :

JWO - I know exactly what you meant. I own a tournament rigged Stratos 201 that is completely full of 14 or so rods in the locker and no empty space in the tackle storage area. I have GPS and depth finders front and rear. Every nook and cranny is stuffed with gidgets and whatcha call its. On tournament weekends I am all business whether it is a $35 club tourney or a $150 extreme tourney. This is when my fierce competitive side comes out....It has to on the highly pressured lakes I fish....

But that does not mean that I don't break out the john boat and my favorite worm pole and go spend a day with my daughter in a local reclaimed phosphate pit and boat 10 bass an hour...

2 completely different forms of recreation with different needs and different results.

Micro reply :

My job is too competitive for me to want to be competitive on the water. Also, I like to start and stop when I please, try things that might not work, and sometimes lay down the rod and pick up the camera and take some pictures of birds and such. Once fishing become competitive, it will lose its fun for me.

Catt reply :

I consider myself a recreational angler who has fished tournaments trails but I'm also competitive and will take a challenge at the drop of a hat; heck I'm usually the one that drops the hat.

"People in life who are the happiest don't have the best of everything; they make the best of everything they have"

What I have is God given ability to locate/read structure and I use this ability to catch both quality bass and quantities of bass; I can do it with one rod if necessary.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, the key to being a successful angler is between your ears not between the folds of your wallet.

RobbyZ5001 reply :

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Posted by: Catt Posted on: Today at 7:30pm
I've said it before and I'll say it again, the key to being a successful angler is between your ears not between the folds of your wallet.

The things you guys say sometimes blows my mind. Well said Catt

Raul reply :

Quote

Quote
Posted by: Catt Posted on: Today at 7:30pm
I've said it before and I'll say it again, the key to being a successful angler is between your ears not between the folds of your wallet.

The things you guys say sometimes blows my mind. Well said Catt

How about: " Lo chipocludo está del mango de la caña para atrás, ahí es donde está la pus"

Translation there 's no translation for "chipocludo" so the closest in English would be:

"Awesomeness is behind the rod randle, there 's where the pus is." or " It 's not the wand but the magician where the the magic is "

See what says below my avatar ? Mizu no Kokoro, it means Mind as clear as water, too zen for me and since I 'm a redneck let 's put it simple, "free your mind ..... your arse will follow" ;D

Catt reply :

People often respond to failure and frustration by over-complicating theory and technique. As much as it helps our egos to regard a difficult task as complex, this type of thinking is often the biggest obstacle between you and fishing success.

It takes a rare breed of fisherman using simple techniques to perfection to consistently catch big bass.

Quotes from Hannon's Big Bass Magic

Tin reply :

Quote
People often respond to failure and frustration by over-complicating theory and technique. As much as it helps our egos to regard a difficult task as complex, this type of thinking is often the biggest obstacle between you and fishing success.
It takes a rare breed of fisherman using simple techniques to perfection to consistently catch big bass.

Quotes from Hannon's Big Bass Magic

Makes a lot of sense now that you say it.

guest reply :

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I 'm a strictly recreational angler, the only competition I have is myself

Me too,

but I think I need to improve.

I keep losing.

The_Natural reply :

I've come full circle...my family has had a lake house on Grand Lake for 30+ years. I fished recreational for everything (crappie/bass) until I was in 6th grade, when my aunt got divorced and remarried a guy who was serious into bass fishing...he was the president of a bass club he started in Missouri...the Missouri Backlashers. I fished this club for two years from 14-15 as a guest that could not participate legally according to BASS rules (had to be 16...and I would have placed a couple of times which made it even more frustrating...no Jr. Bassmasters in the early '90's.) No internet...I learned most from my uncle...whom I contribute to my passion for the sport...and many techniques I gained confidence in while fishing with tournament partners in the club. So being a tournament fisherman makes you better I believe...not because you are a 'tournament fisherman'...but because there is always a time you aren't catching them under certain conditions and your partner is...you learn what technique to perform and what bait to throw when what you are doing isn't working. The Slider, Carolina rig, and a few others are examples of things I learned while fishing club tournaments when I was yourng. I've only been able to fish ponds the last two seasons after finishing in the top 5 the two years prior in my club fishing from the back of the boat. I am going to switch jobs by spring to allow me to start fishing some larger tournaments after talking to my wife. You only have one shot...isn't it everyone's dream?!

Dan: reply :

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I 'm a strictly recreational angler, the only competition I have is myself. I can easily fish with one rod and reel and a few baits and catch fish, but on the other hand I think about my gear as tools for a job and if I can afford them and carry them then I see no reason why I shouldn 't have a tool for each job besides the fact that I just love to purchase stuff, I get pleasure out of purchasing it, I get pleasure out of seeeing it, my imagination skyrockets when I stare at my stuff ( I envision me catching fish with it ) and that daydream also privides me with a great deal of pleasure, I get pleasure out of fishing with my stuff and if it happens that I catch fish with it well that 's the cherry on top of the pie.
The answer is: whatever pleases you, after all, it 's your money.

Couldn't have said it better.

Fish Chris reply :

I consider myself to about as much of a hard-core multi-species angler, as any still-have-to-work guy you might ever meet......... Yet, I'm also about the least competitive individual you might ever meet, as well.

Never had the slightest desire to fish against anybody else. For me, fishing is all between myself and the fish.

Now as far as gear goes, I like to have lots of specific tools, for lots of specific fishing situations.... Especially, being a multi-species guy, and living in an area with great fishing for everything from Bluegills, to Sturgeon. However, I'm a poor guy who fishes too much, and doesn't work enough. Therefore, I'm really fortunate to have several sponsors who pretty much give me most of the tackle I ever need. I can pretty much say, any fishing tackle I want, I've got.

Then, a couple years ago, I got my dreamboat (my G3) all but given to me also.

Now if only I could find somebody to give me a new truck, and a "gas card" !!! :-)

Peace,

Fish

mayassa reply :

I'm a recreational angler, but my wife thinks I'm obsessive with my equipment, I just got tired of working the problems with the reels and lines and not getting to fish, so I upgraded to what I can afford. She complained once so I showed her the eleven coach purses with matching wallets in the closet. Oh back to the subject - I like to have a few rods with me on the boat and 1 each BC and Spinning when I'm wading, 1 stays in the jeep and I switch out when needed. I always have that dream of going pro when I'm on that day.

Bassnajr reply :

I think this thread has morphed into a few different though related topics, so I hope I am not way off.

I played golf since I was 10 yoa. A recent accident prevents me from playing now and I've gotten back into my first love, fishing. I was a victim of the "golf club monkey" as a lot of guys are. And competition, among golfers..nah!!! (lol) Buying equipment in fishing is like golf...it's always changing, upgrading, improving. The newest balls, putters, etc. I shop as close to discount as I can!!! I try to get the best I can for my money and having lots of gear is all part of the hobby and passion of fishing. That being said, I'll bet there are folks all over that have one rod, one reel and one tackle box and catch as many fish and nice size fish as any of us. They are probably chuckling at us!!! lol

I fished my first tournament this past fall and I plan on doing more next year. Competition is involved but let's not forget what I believe is a BIG part of tournament fishing...the folks you meet, the charities you can help (charity fishing tournaments of course), and just sharing the sport we all love so much.

By the way, I challenged a guy to a golf match. He played only one club...a five iron. HE KICKED MY A$$!!!

bassinajr

jwo1124 reply :

I think that this thread has sort of opened my eyes that it can be more beneficial to own more technique or task specific set ups than it would be to have a few genral or multi pupurpose set-ups.

I appreciate that a few guys understood the boat I was in, being mainly a shorebound guy for now, and my situation just couldn't handle carrying around a bunch of rods. Maybe for now, due to my financial limits and angling situation, maybe I will purchase a couple technique specific set ups, master those couple techniques, and as I have the means and/or need for more set ups, I'll purchase more technique specific set ups for other techniques to master.

This way I'll always be learning new ways to catch bass, I'll have a better arsenal of equiptment, having the perfect set ups for certain times, instead of a few set ups that will broadly cover various techniques.

Am I'm sure that there will be times, when I am only going to need three technique rods on a given day depending on what type of pattern the bass are likely to be on given the seasonal, environmental, and biological circumstances. This way if I am beating hte banks or out on a small craft with limited room, I can still have the freedom of only a few rods that are easy to transport around, but I will have exactly the right gear to execute a gien task on that given day. Kind of the best of both worlds.

it seems liek discussions like this are the places where things are learned and eyes are opened. I know it's the case with me.

Tokyo Tony reply :

In my life I've taken every activity to the extreme and to a very high level of competition, from soccer when I was younger, to golf, to orchestral flute, to academics and everything else. I'm very competitive, and I really enjoy intense competition. On the other hand, fishing is one thing I've never done competitively (unless you count against my brother), and I think I want to keep it that way. I enjoy fishing so freakin' much as it is that I don't think I'd want to change that. Granted, being in fierce competition on the lake sounds like fun, but I don't ever want to get to the point where I catch a huge fish and my first thought is, "Jeez, I wish I were fishing a tournament today." I think that would take away from my "recreational" fishing a lot. Don't get me wrong - usually I'm very intense on the water and very focused, but I feel like getting used to fishing in competition would take away from the enjoyment I derive from recreational fishing, and that enjoyment is something I always want to keep intact.

farmpond1 reply :

This may belong in a different thread but when it comes to competition, there are poor losers and also, perhaps more irritatingly, poor winners. I don't fish tournaments but I still know a little about this. I have an...acquaintance who loves to fish. He's invited me to go along with him on several times. Admitedly, he usually does better than me and there are plenty of things I could learn from him. But humility isn't one of them. If I catch a decent fish, he'll dredge out of his past an even better fish that he's caught. Or if I'm having a pretty good day, he's had an even better day the week before. It never fails. One could, of course, argue that I'm the sore loser but it's not much fun to be around someone who feels compelled to "one up me" all the time. I'm sure he has his own insecurities but it still irritates me and I don't go with him anymore.

Raul reply :

Quote
If I catch a decent fish, he'll dredge out of his past an even better fish that he's caught. Or if I'm having a pretty good day, he's had an even better day the week before. It never fails.

Where you met my friend Pedro ? man he excells at doing that but ........ I still go fishing with him. But he doesn 't do better than me. maybe I 'm mean cuz I do enjoy watching his I don't understand ? face when I 'm beating him by far which is normally the case.

grimlin reply :

I'm out to get away from it all...recreational fisherman is the way i like it.As soon as it starts to become a "job" I'd probably start doing it less and less.Same for tackle,i love collecting...it can be a good hobbie as well.

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