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Old Geezers catch more Now or Then? #11423616 02/18/16 11:22 PM
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ScottA Online Content OP
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First off, I'm an old geezer myself. Back in the early 80's up into the 90's anglers had only had two options when it comes to fishing line. Stren or Trilene. Sure there were different varieties ie. XT or XL or Big Game. Never the less, not much to think about except for line size for the most part.

Today fisherman get the choice of many different types of line, Braid, Fluoro, Copolymer, hybrid and mono and a plethora of manufactures making these lines.

Do you catch more fish today then you did say 20 yrs ago with these newer lines (technology electronics aside)

Moritz Chevrolet - 9101 Camp Bowie W Blvd, Fort Worth, TX - Monte Coon (817) 696-2003
Re: Old Geezers catch more Now or Then? [Re: ScottA] #11423622 02/18/16 11:25 PM
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fish bite wires now days

Re: Old Geezers catch more Now or Then? [Re: ScottA] #11423623 02/18/16 11:25 PM
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yes

Re: Old Geezers catch more Now or Then? [Re: ScottA] #11423677 02/18/16 11:58 PM
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I took a break of almost 20 years from bass fishing and got back into it 3 or 4 years ago. I know exactly what you are talking about.

I went to Bass Pro to get a new pistol grip rod, some Stren, lead worm weights, and TruTurn hooks. I was overwhelmed by the changes. I can't believe the difference I feel with a modern rod, fluoro line, and a tungsten weight when I fish a worm.

Re: Old Geezers catch more Now or Then? [Re: ScottA] #11423716 02/19/16 12:15 AM
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I believe to a certain degree there was less pressure when I started bass fishing in the late 70's and fish just weren't as line wary. I used Trilene XL until the big bass bug hit in the mid 80's and I went to Big Game. Caught lots of fish on both. With the additional pressure now we look for any advantage we can get and that includes the line we use. Our line is all there is between us and the fish. I love fluoro and use InvizX for most things. Still use Big Game for topwaters, some cranks and braid for froggin and heavy flipping. Do I catch more today than back then I dunno but I have a lot of confidence in the "new" lines. That being said if I could only use one line it would be 15# Big Game. A thump still feels like a thump and I actually think the new rods and tungsten weights help us detect things better than the line.


Steve

1999 ChampioN 203 - 2011 250hp Mercury Optimax Pro XS
2-10" Helix & 1-10" Garmin Livescope Plus - Ultrex 36/112


Re: Old Geezers catch more Now or Then? [Re: ScottA] #11423801 02/19/16 12:51 AM
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I caught more better quality fish back in the late 60's and 70's, but now I catch a lot more quantity overall. I cant decide if that's due to lack of pressure back then and better technique now, but I'm not exactly convinced line is the major factor either. Don't get me wrong I love fluorocarbon and as hard as it was to get used to when it first came out I stuck with it, and glad I did. I now use it 80% of the time and would hate to have to go back to mono for the techniques I use for fluorocarbon now.
Everything evolves, line, baits, electronics, rods, reels and all you can do is find what you have confidence in, put your head in the game and try and connect the dots.


Re: Old Geezers catch more Now or Then? [Re: ScottA] #11423844 02/19/16 01:10 AM
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I remember catching them on Cajun mono and spiderwire braid.Im not yet geezer status tho.


Originally Posted by Trickster
BIG FAT BASS LIVES MATTER


Re: Old Geezers catch more Now or Then? [Re: ScottA] #11423879 02/19/16 01:24 AM
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I truly believe in the early days there were more fish to catch. They were in waters that was not visited very often by good fisherman.
- 1966 to 82 I threw nothing but one spinner bait, one spook and two crank baits. Fished all on 17 lb. Golden Stren. Won many tournaments and caught tons of fish.
- 1982 moved to Texas and started listening to others, reading and doing research on the new wave of fishing. As I implemented these techniques it became harder and harder to just go out and catch big stringers. I went with the smaller quality line, the best plastics, cranks, jigs and equipment which didn't help any at all.
- 1990 to Present, went back to the old ways with just a few changes that I believe to be for the better. I top water with 25 lb. Original Stren Mono.. I throw Spinner baits and cranks on 20 lb. Stren Floro. and fish heavy cover with plastics on 25 lb. XPS Floro.. Never looked back and have caught more than my share of big bass and stringers of bass. What I don't want to worry about is breaking a big fish off. I wasn't in it much for the sport and joy of playing a fish until she give up. Just too many things can happen in that 60 seconds. I slid them to the boat and into the net. Seeing a big old beautiful Bass jump was a rare occasion. She really had to catch me with my guard down to put on any kind of show.

Catching is much more difficult now than it was back in the 60's and 70's. I just do not believe it has a day in and day out affect on catching to have all the new and latest equipment; especially line and 400 dollar rod/reel combos.. It's all about finding fish that are feeding and working them over with your strengths and the baits you have confidence in. The other thing I found helpful is fishing one lake at a time, until you know every big fish whole that will produce on a regular basis; starting shallow then moving your way out to deep water each day as they travel back and forth.


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Re: Old Geezers catch more Now or Then? [Re: bradnitro175] #11423881 02/19/16 01:25 AM
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Originally Posted By: bradnitro175
I remember catching them on Cajun mono and spiderwire braid.Im not yet geezer status tho.

Definition for geezer---Not young, not old...somewhere in between. I can handle that...lol


Steve

1999 ChampioN 203 - 2011 250hp Mercury Optimax Pro XS
2-10" Helix & 1-10" Garmin Livescope Plus - Ultrex 36/112


Re: Old Geezers catch more Now or Then? [Re: ScottA] #11424076 02/19/16 02:46 AM
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ScottA Online Content OP
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Don I have the same experience as you. I am able to catch just as many bass today with the abundance of tackle choices as I did when there were fewer options.

I believe there is great merit to the modern rods/reels and no doubt electronics. The anglers today are accessing bass that I never would have thought about getting to 20 yrs ago. Case in point Combs long lining a crankbait to 25' plus on Fork. 20 yrs ago I would have dropped a 3/4 oz. Hopkins spoon on them.

Thanks for the replies gentlemen. They are much appreciated.

Re: Old Geezers catch more Now or Then? [Re: ScottA] #11424164 02/19/16 03:19 AM
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sometimes i think if most of us just keep it simple and not get caught up in all the hype of this bait is better than that bait, we all would probably catch same amount of fish..but i know a few things does make a difference like tungsten weights, i ate my words on that too..can't believe how much more sensitive tungsten is over lead its pricey but worth it..

we can all be hurt by overthinking our fishing gear sometimes...but like they say the more things change the more they stay the same....

Re: Old Geezers catch more Now or Then? [Re: ScottA] #11424712 02/19/16 02:13 PM
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Yes

Re: Old Geezers catch more Now or Then? [Re: ezbassin] #11424750 02/19/16 02:29 PM
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Originally Posted By: ezbassin
Yes


cheers peep

Re: Old Geezers catch more Now or Then? [Re: ScottA] #11424773 02/19/16 02:41 PM
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The biggest change is, I fish deeper now than back when I beat the bank and catch bigger fish now. During the spawn is about the only time now that I fish shallow. Love to fish big worms on slopes and drop offs.I'm 80 years old so guess I'm a geezer. Still fish at least 5 days a week, leave the weekends to the working men.


Never test the depth of the water with both feet.

Bobby


Re: Old Geezers catch more Now or Then? [Re: ScottA] #11424870 02/19/16 03:26 PM
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There were lots of bass clubs and bass fishermen in the 70s and 80s, BUT - some major things were different:

We had fewer people overall in Texas. So, less people on the lakes. NO Jetskis.

We also had new lakes coming online all the time. Not so anymore. It seemed to me that once a lake hit about 7 or 8 years old up to about 14 or 15 it would sort of "peak". The explosion of baitfish would begin to decline with the rotting of cover.

Electronics were limited to flashers early on and you really had to know how to read them. Fish, bait, cover and bottoms were something that had to be learned and most fishermen didn't do too well at it.
Deeper structure fishing was in it's infancy. That has certainly changed. It's impossible for fish to hide now.

Before Durocher and Floridas were introduced, an eight pound Texas bass was considered the lunker of a lifetime. Kinda hard to believe, but it was.

All that said, fishing is still fishing. You still have to find them - every time out. And you still have to provide the right bait and presentation. And you still have good days and bad days.


"..The pleasantist angling is to see the fish
Cut with her golden oars the silver stream,
And greedily devour the treacherous bait.
Bill Shakespeare





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