Why spend a bundle on a high tech rod and reel

[gregman1069]

As I have posted in Avalon Fishing Report, one day I was walking out the 8th St jetty when I saw three men. A grandfather, son and grandson. They were enjoying a fine of fishing and looked to have a good catch whenb I walked up. I try to talk to the people out on the jetty to find out what's happening and if it's worth it to walk all the way out to the point. But I just had to find out if granpop was using what I thought he was using. He was sitting on the rock holding no more than a bamboo rod with some string tied the end. His son and grandson both told me that the pile of fish next was in fact his catch and he caught them on his "rig". He had some nice flounder and a blue or two. This happened over the summer so I don't remember what bait or actual "hardware" he was using. He just kinda sat on that rock with a "Damn kids, think you know everything" look on his face.

[Hotrod]

Too Funny

[Luna Sea 5]

OLD SCHOOL.. my grandfather was the same way.. swore by trolling wire, and also did the bamboo rod as well...

[ped579]

GO GRANDPA...

I still like to use a cane pole to fish for snappers.

Happy Catching

Paul

[IrishAyes]

Great story Gregman, thanks for sharing.   

[gymrat987654321]

haha i remember when i was little my dad broke a branch of a tree, tied line one it, and put a hook and worm on it... and thats how i caught my first fish.

[ped579]

Nothing wrong with that.  It caught fish...

[Hunter 2]

 I used to love snapper fishing with a bamboo pole with around 7' of line tied to it. My dad would set me up to keep me occupied at the marina while he worked on his old 1906, 35' fishing boat. I have to post some pics of that old boat..

[mgm]

I'll never forget a family trip down the keys on the old Flagler highway in the 50's.

We stopped on a bridge to watch the locals fishing with a12 to 14' bamboo cane pole with braided clothesline to which was a wire leader,hook baited with a live shrimp.

They fished it like a fly rod drifting a nymph.

We saw grouper/jewfish in the 20 to 40 pound class being hoisted over the bridge rails.

You could see the fish in the clear water. 

In one case they had a 50+ lb fish spotted and used a double pole attached to  one line.  The fish was hooked and swung over the side.

Sadly all of those easy fish are picked, but it taught me that local knowledge and technique is more important than the most expensive equipment to catch trophy fish.