This post may not mean much to those under 30 years old.

 

I was fishing a Texas rigged plastic worm the other day and thought "It feels like the hook point has slid out of the worm".  Sure enough, when I retrieved it, the bottom part of the hook was exposed.  Numerous times, I could feel when I had a just a few strands of moss on the worm.  One retrieve, I felt like there was something on the line that wasn't a fish, sure enough a small clam had latched on to the exposed shaft of the hook.  With today's equipment, it is amazing how well you can detect exactly what is taking place at the end of your line. 

 

Thinking about that got me to realizing how far equipment has come for fishing plastic worms & other bottom bumping lures.  I started in an era of fiberglass rods, monofilament line and lead weights.  Nearly all of the bass I caught on soft plastics back then were only because the fish picked up the lure & swam 20 yards off to one side.  I had no idea what was on the bottom, much less what was happening or if I was getting bit.  It really increases my admiration of the guys from that era who were proficient with bottom bumping lures, it was not an easy skill set to learn.

 

I often like to think about the "good ol' days" when it comes to fishing, but will readily admit that today's better equipment makes the experience of fishing plastics much more fulfilling, as well as effective, for the non-expert.

When I started fishing I used a cane pole. I can totally relate!!

My father in law always comments how spoiled we are now. Keep the R&D coming!!