Here's a blast from the past, the days of a bamboo pole, a length of kite string and a cork split half way through for an adjustable bobber.

 

My cousin and I caught a gold(en) shiner, about the size of medium bluegill.  We'd save our "creel" using another piece of kite string with a twig about four inches long tied on at the middle of the twig.  We'd push the twig into the mouth, through the gills and once it was through, we'd turn the twig perpendicular to the twine and pull the twig snug to the gill plate.  We never had a fish escape this rig.

 

Later in the day we came back to free our captive shiner, but too late.  A sixteen inch pickerel had swallowed the shiner.  We thought that pickerel was a world record.  It was a monster to a couple of kids who were not yet ten years old.

 

Now, talk to me again about good line, good knots, good rods and good reels.  I've since caught much bigger fish but none of them brought any more joy than that pickerel.

Pics? Here's a few of my favorites

Here, add this to your pics.

 

I think Hank Hill is the only one on the other side of that potential debate.

One thing we have down here is lots of fish that exceed 40 or 50 inches, loaded with teeth.  The key is putting your lure into the right spot for a strike, pretty easily done with any rod and and reel, nothing overly involved.   The next part is landing it, which is not so easy, the further the fish is from boat or shore and the longer it takes to land increase the chance of the fish being unbuttoned.  60 seconds does not sound like a long fight, put a timer to your next big fish, 60 seconds will seam like an eternity.   Then fight one for 15 minutes or more, without expertise I put the win on the fish almost every time, don't care what kind of rod and reel, line or knot

Sloan you finally get your boat back from Lund and run out of things to complain about?

I patiently watched a fish tearing up the pads not within reach from shore everyday for a month. Just waiting and buying my time. One morning about 7:30/8am it was on my side of the pads. I casted my topnocker passes it and then feet to the right of the edge of the pads. I slowly walked it and popped it when it got near him. He hit it like a freight train. The fight was on. He was pulling in every direction.

It didn't feel like a bass but it was a strong pull. I constantly heard my drag click off. I had only 8lb test Excalibur silver thread line.

Finally I landed it and a 30" chain pickerel was it. This battle was awesome. It makes me want to target great northern pike sometime.

Funny I fish three hot healthy spots and in all three places one giant pickerel was caught.

The best bass fight I ever had was my 6lb 1oz bass in my pic. She swam the whole place. My pb10# didn't fight like that but she hit two feet from shore. Too close.

Pics? Here's a few of my favorites

Her body English and look says it's time to go fishing lol

Road kill raccoon yummy

Get well soon, cracks me up, (belly laugh) thanks I needed a pick me up today.

Slo, congrats on the catch.

 

I caught a three and a half largemouth on a Rooster Tail while fishing for bream.

 

If it works, it works.

Slo, congrats on the catch.

 

I caught a three and a half largemouth on a Rooster Tail while fishing for bream.

 

If it works, it works.

Thanks Sam. I hope it doesn't matter that I caught the bass around 2006

sounds like YOU care,

I think about the debates on numerous topics here and this particular topic Is always of Interest to me. I fish with what I can afford and I neither care nor seek out what others are using. I will say though when you see a new boat or you fish with folks that have high end gear It's hard not to notice. In the end though I'm 54 years old and honestly couldn't care less about what others think and or say about my equipment, where I've caught my fish, what I wear on the water, or my , at times, brand loyalty to certain bait companies. 

 

Lastly, to all you young folks out there I will leave you with this advice; while It's nice to have the very best equipment out there I truly hope you think about this: As you start a family, especially children, their needs far surpass anything you could possibly need with regards to fishing. Do the right thing and as the years go by you will be amazed at what you collect and as you near retirement you will see that the wants (fishing related) aren't as Important as you thought.

 

Slone, with regards to your personal best, was It caught on the little pink Barbie rod you posted a pic. of In the everything else forum?

I care.  If people stop bickering on the interweb about fishing stuff I'm ruined.