Rethinking Professionalism in Fishing Tournaments: A Call for Non-Drag Reels and the Art of Backreeling

Dear anglers.

I am writing to express my concern about the current state of professional fishing tournaments and the growing reliance on drag systems. While drag reels undoubtedly aid in landing large fish, I believe their use undermines the true spirit of the sport and diminishes the skill and expertise of professional anglers, particularly when it comes to the art of backreeling.

Backreeling, a technique where anglers retrieve line by rotating the reel handle backwards, is a crucial skill that requires practice, timing, and finesse. It allows anglers to fight fish more efficiently, exert greater control over the line, and avoid line breakage, especially when targeting powerful species. However, the widespread use of drag systems has made backreeling almost obsolete in professional tournaments, effectively removing an essential element of skill and knowledge from the competition.

Furthermore, drag systems often automate the fight against fish, turning it into a matter of brute force rather than a strategic contest relying on the angler's ability to read the fish's movements and react accordingly. This devalues the true essence of professionalism in fishing, where success should be a testament to the angler's experience, knowledge, and ability .

Therefore, mandating the use of non-drag reels in professional fishing tournaments.(Specifically small mouth tournament, when everyone is fishing mostly same way) This would reintroduce the importance of backreeling as a crucial skill, showcasing the expertise and adaptability of professional anglers. It would also necessitate a deeper understanding of fish behavior and the ability to control the line without the aid of a drag system, ultimately elevating the level of competition and skill required to succeed.

While this change may seem radical, it is necessary to preserve the integrity and spirit of professional fishing. By removing the reliance on drag systems, we can ensure that competition is based on true skill, knowledge, and mastery of techniques like backreeling. We can once again celebrate the anglers who can truly outwit and outmaneuver their opponents, showcasing the beauty and challenge that lies at the heart of this age-old sport.

I urge the organizers of professional fishing tournaments to seriously consider this proposal and embrace the return to a time where fishing was a battle of skill. Let us rekindle the art of backreeling and elevate the sport to its rightful place as a testament to the expertise and ingenuity of its most dedicated practitioners.

Winter is getting to you huh?

Hello and welcome to Bass Resource ~

So, state of the art electronics paired with 60 year old reels ?

I don't get it. 

A-Jay

It will never fly. Twenty years ago, Ray Scott also advocated for light line (4 lb. test) tournaments to put the "fun" back in fishing competition, and that never gained any traction, either. His "no net" rule, though, has stuck around all these years, surprisingly. My guess is a year from now, you'll have another 19 people on board to go with the first 19 that supported this effort a year ago on the Change.org platform, making 38 of us in the whole country who still enjoy back-reeling  

Ray Scott held some light line tournaments after he sold B.A.S.S.  Nothing preventing others from doing the same or holding a no drag tournament. ( assuming you can still find a reel with no drag)

 

Personally,  I don't view fishing as a fish fighting contest.  If I did I'd switch to a harder fighting species.  For me it's more about figuring them out and trying to out smart them but to each his own.  

I hate to admit this, but I don’t think I’ve ever back reeled

 

Maybe a saltwater thing but I thought the goal was to get the fish in as fast as possible and avoid prolong stress to the fish? Does back reeling have you playing the fish longer?
 

No clue … Take a cab  

More broke-off fish with hooks stuck in their mouths?  That's fodder for PETA.

 

It's a hard "NO" for me.

 

Backreel battle 

 

7 hours ago, Jigfishn10 said:

Does back reeling have you playing the fish longer?

Not necessarily. The fish isn’t fighting against the drag friction, but the rod itself still absorbs a great deal of their strength.
 

What such a proposed contest would do is move people towards very heavy line so they could horse fish in even more than they already do. 

Why, I can understand when the days of spinning reel drags sucking (40-50 years ago) that back reeling would give you more control.

FM

7 minutes ago, Fishingmickey said:

Why, I can understand when the days of spinning reel drags sucking (40-50 years ago) that back reeling would give you more control.

FM

I use it because it’s not a setting, it is dynamic 

Back reeling only applies to spinning reels with right/left hand operation switch to change the reel handle to left or right. 
No spinning reel was made to reel backwards that is what the Drag every spinning reel has is designed to perform.

Bass anglers primarily use conventional bait casting reels that can’t be reeled backwards they have anti reverse devices since the free spool reels entered the market late 1950’s along with a Star drag adjustment device and free spool release to perform casting.

The OP’s thoughts are ridiculous as very few anglers lock down a spinning reels drags and allow the reels to handle to turn backwards. We bass anglers have learned to set the drag and trust and maintain it to perform as intended.

Tom

 

This should have been saved for April 1st.

5 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

I use it because it’s not a setting, it is dynamic 

I can understand that. A lot of the manufacturers (or at least Shimano and Diawa) are not producing spinning reels with a anti-reverse switches any more. 

Best regards,

FM

@Fishingmickey, yeah my buddy got me a

shimano as a gift and didn’t realize that. I’m always reaching for the switch on that one ! Haha

Wow! thanks everyone I didn't think anybody would read this message, I did speak with Ray Scott several times before he passed, and he did state (if we don't keep peoples interest  then we're probably going to loose anglers.)I did send the petition to B.A.S.S. they stated they would not change rules because one person requested. People are already P.O. with forward sonar. so please spread the word. Mechanisms rob you from the one thing you're after, The fight. Lew bass333amps1970@gmail.com.

Wow! thanks everyone I didn't think anybody would read this message, I did speak with Ray Scott several times before he passed, and he did state (if we don't keep peoples interest  then we're probably going to loose anglers.)I did send the petition to B.A.S.S. they stated they would not change rules because one person requested. People are already P.O. with forward sonar. so please spread the word. Mechanisms rob you from the one thing you're after, The fight. Lew bass333amps1970@gmail.com.

rethinking professionalism in fishing tournaments: a call for non-drag reels and the art of back reeling change.org.

thanks y'all I did fished with Takahiro Omory in a snow storm, we spoke about it as he uses the technique on all his spinning reels.crank the drag tight, hook fish, release spool, and your pointer finger is the best DRAG SYSTEM you could ask for, 200.000.000 000. Ball bearings, straight from God 

You still have to use light line, you just gotta master the art. heavier line defeats the purpose of spinning gear. I only really have a problem in smallmouth tournaments where everyone is spinning. 

If you want folks watching on TV. To tune in they need something more to pressure on the anglers, instead of ballerina's with drag peeling, No matter who's boat your in same DRAG SHOW. thanks, no disrespect to anyone, it's a important topic for some of us.

Saw the heading and thought that Ru Paul was joining one of the pro bass circuits  

 

I cannot tell if this is either a masterful satire on FFS/electronics haters or genuine thoughts from the mind of the most crazed bass purist alive. Either way its great and keep on doing you man.