A few months back I was at my wife's grandmothers house and was outside practicing my flipping techniques and this old man that just moved in next door walked over and said he had some worms to give me if I wanted some. Well I thought he was talking about live worms so I told him I didnt need any at the moment but thanks for the offer. Well he kept insisting for me to come over to his building to check out his worms. So I walked over and was in disbelief when I saw all of these hawgs and I mean hawgs hanging on his wall. He probably had 4 or 5 that were double digits and another 15 that were 5 lbs or better hanging on his wall. So we get to talking about how he caught these and he pulled out his tackle and started showing me all these antique lures they dont even make anymore and some they still do like the Jitterbug. I asked him how he mounted his fish and he told me with a pocket knife and paper machet (i think that's how you spell it). He said he mounted all of thim himself probably over 30 years ago. But he said he ate all the fish he caught that were legal and the ones worth mounting he did that to. Anyhow I took my father-in-law over there yesterday so we could talk to him for a little while and try to gain some knowledge from him and he basically told us all of his fish were caught on plastic worms and live spring lizards on Lake York in SC. He's over 80 years old and doesn't have any grandchildren to pass his stuff down to and he can't fish anymore because he has arthritis so bad in his hands. So he tries to give me stuff everytime I go over there. I just wanted to share this with yall.  I know he didnt practice catch and release but atleast he ate the fish before he mounted them! 

Excellent story

That is a great story.  You could probably learn a lot from him, keep your ears open.

When I saw the title, I thought you had a chance encounter with Long Mike.   ;D

still catchin bass on worms... they'll never become wary of the worm. theres the question of whether or not bass begin to recognize and ignore a particular lure, but never the plastic worm, they love it and that is why this lure gives me the most confidence when fishing. good story

That is a great story. You could probably learn a lot from him, keep your ears open.

When I saw the title, I thought you had a chance encounter with Long Mike. ;D

Nice

I talk to an old timer every morning - I say good moring dear - no seriously there are some guys in my club that are a little rusty around the collar, but have taught me so many things about fishing that there is no way I can ever remember it all. Some times old school is cool!

This does not mean you in general but it pays to listen to your elders once in a while. You can come across somebody with info worth listening too.Lesson 101 of 1 listen before you leap, and you will learn to defeat.

That is very cool.  I'm sure as you talk to him more you will realize that the old man's techniques and lure choices will not be that far off from what you do today.

I look at an old timer every morning in the mirror and say who is that old man looking back at me.

It sounds like the guy just wants to share some of his experience with someone interested in bass fsihing. My advice; let him share it. You might want to take a lake map over to him and start showing you some of his best spots, it's a good way to him to relive the past and you to learn about the lake.

WRB

That's great! You should ask him if you can take some photos, I'd love to see his tackle and the home-made mounts.

Great story.  Thanks for sharing it.

I talk to an old timer every morning - I say good moring dear - no seriously there are some guys in my club that are a little rusty around the collar, but have taught me so many things about fishing that there is no way I can ever remember it all. Some times old school is cool![/quote]

[old school is always cool!

Old timers rule. That guy has probably forgotten more about fishing than most of us remember.

I'd take someone like that out for a steak dinner just to hear his fishing stories.

X2 for what bilgerat said.Hell you might even pick up something just by being close to the man(osmosis)

That is pretty awesome I must say.

I was in my Ford Truck once driving down the freeway, and my check engine light comes on. So I pull over and the engine just dies. This old man pulls over, I swear like 80+ years old, comes over and says you need a hand. I ignorantly tell him no its okay. He still comes over and looks in and he does something and he fixes something and tells me to start it and it ran perfect. I asked him what his name was, and he told me Henry Ford.

True Story :

That is a great story. You could probably learn a lot from him, keep your ears open.

When I saw the title, I thought you had a chance encounter with Long Mike. ;D

That was a great story, but Speedbead has crossed the line with the "Old Timer" crap.  Today I went to the local Cherokee Shaman (Witch Doctor) and requested that a Pox be placed upon his ugly head.  I have been assured that worms will soon be crawling out of his ears and nose.  If anyone needs live bait contact Speedbead.  He will soon have an inexhaustible supply.   ;D ;D ;D

Yes I am definitely going to take a map over there and get him to try and point out his favorite spots. We asked him where they were when we talked to him. But I'm definitely going to keep my ears open with this old timer. He knows his bass fishing. Next time I'm home I will try to get some pics of the home made mounts of his.

The young ones always think they know everything, but we, they,us with any respect would know they were kids too.Not all of us know it ALL.Let us know how your doing with the info you are receiving.Very little are willing to listen.A whole lot are to quick to jump with their eyes, and when they become dumbfounded, they ask, for help.

Keep in mind we were all young once. Most people look at someone and prejudge them; that young kid doesn't know anything or that old man doesn't know everything, the truth lies somewhere in between.

It's human nature to remember people as you last had contact with them, everybody changes with time.

My generation was taught to respect their elders, most of today's generation doesn't take the time.

There is no way anyone can look at someone and judge them accurately, that takes time.

Before you share any photos or information, take a few minutes and ask first if that is OK, they could be closely held secrets, to the old timer .

WRB

Personally, I avoid old timers like the plaque.

They tend to think slow, talk slow and repeat the same old stories.

You'll also notice, that if you get too close an old angler, they smell a little like fish.

Roger

I know you said he had arthritis pretty bad, but maybe on a nice day you could ask him if he wanted to join you at the lake. He may not be able to fish long , so just a nice boat ride or a shady spot for some catfishing. I hope when i mature to the point of someone clling me "old timer" that a younger person would offer to take me.   good luck, fisher

great story man

It's generally excepted that fish get conditioned to avoid crankbaits etc. that they see repeatedly.  This must be especially true for fish that are caught and released.

Speaking of "Old School" I was cleaning out the garage last summer and found an old tackle box of mine that had some lures in it that dated from the early 70's.  Just for fun I tossed them in the boat.  Not too surprisingly they still caught fish...after all none of those fish were born when these baits went out of style...hahaha.

It's generally excepted that fish get conditioned to avoid crankbaits etc. that they see repeatedly.  This must be especially true for fish that are caught and released.

Speaking of "Old School" I was cleaning out the garage last summer and found an old tackle box of mine that had some lures in it that dated from the early 70's.  Just for fun I tossed them in the boat.  Not too surprisingly they still caught fish...after all none of those fish were born when these baits went out of style...hahaha.