Reilly: Previous Tools Is Half The Enjoyable In Fishing

I’m nonetheless fishing with rods and reels that I had once I was an adolescent…that my dad had earlier than me.  And I can in truth say they’re higher in some methods than what you should purchase now, and as a lot part of the enjoyable as fishing, itself.

By Ray Reilly for Press Pros

I’d prefer to share with you that I’ve obtained loads of response from my current Florida posts and fishing for giant panfish.  Over and over folks have instructed me that they get pleasure from studying about ‘real’ fishing…easy fishing…and fishing that doesn’t break the financial institution.

I’ve shared these tales on platforms aside from Press Pros, and the feedback I’ve obtained have one frequent query.  How a lot does it price if you wish to catch bluegills like these in Florida?

Well, it doesn’t must price loads, however loads of what I do is made potential by the folks I do know.  In Florida I fished with long-time good friend Pat Montgomery, who at all times is aware of the place to fish and who to ask.  That actually helps.  Pat fishes practically on a regular basis, has the boat, gear, and the relationships, and that saves each money and time.

As for individuals who write about easy fishing, we did our share of that, too.  The bluegills and shellcrackers caught within the St. Johns had been all caught on small jigs and purple worms in water seven to 10 toes deep – however with the identical baits you employ at residence.  The fish had been a bit scattered as a result of it was pre-spawn, however if you discovered them you actually discovered them, and the method was fairly easy.  Make a very good presentation of the bait on the fish’s depth, elevate the rod tip ever-so-slightly every now and then, and look forward to a fish to eat it.  They weren’t as aggressive as they are going to be in one other month, however fish are at all times keen to eat should you simply wait them out.

There’s one other factor about my fishing tastes that perhaps you’ll recognize as a lot as I do.

I don’t assume I’ve purchased a brand new rod, or a brand new reel, since I used to be eighteen.  In truth, I’m utilizing now – and I used them in Florida – the identical Shakespeare and Johnson spincast reels that my dad purchased again within the 60s and fished with till he died.  He was a stickler for upkeep, he took care of his gear, and he taught me to do the identical.  I’ve three of them, rigged with 4 pound, 8 pound, and 12 pound monofilament line, and I’ve used these reels everywhere in the United States for all types of fish.

The rods that I used are the identical Shakespeare and St. Croix rods that he handed down, and so they’re nonetheless as serviceable because the day he purchased them – seven foot in size, medium to light-weight, and heavy on the reminiscences.  That’s why I get pleasure from utilizing them.

Two years in the past I caught a five-pound bass on a scorching day exterior Ironton, Ohio with Dad’s previous Shakespeare reel – Model 1788 – and the rationale I caught that fish was as a result of I used to be capable of place a high water lure exactly below some overhanging bushes that made it arduous to solid with out getting hung up.  One of the nice qualities of these previous spincast reels was their accuracy and reliability…ease of use.  On the second solid I attached and the battle was on.  The drag and bearings on these previous reels had been brass and steel, and after fifty years nonetheless work flawlessly.  And once we had been catching fish in Florida I can’t inform you how many individuals requested about them…and the way distinctive they had been in comparison with the fashionable spinning and baitcast reels from Daiwa, Abu-Garcia, and Bass Pros Shop.

The indisputable fact that I haven’t purchased a brand new reel since I used to be an adolescent doesn’t imply that I haven’t used extra trendy spinning and baitcast reels.  I’ve, and in some circumstances I’ve loved the newer gear.  But for the sake of simplicity, and fishing that doesn’t break the financial institution, I nonetheless favor the older gear that I take advantage of for crappies and bluegills.

And if you realize what you’re in search of, and should you’re not scared of straightforward upkeep, you’ll be able to nonetheless readily discover the previous rods and the previous reels on EBay for a fraction of the worth of a brand new one. Sadly, the Shakespeare firm is just not the corporate it began out to be.  The benefit, I keep, is that so lots of the newer reels are over-engineered and of much less high quality building.

A number of severe bass fisherman use open baitcasting reels, however I’ve by no means had a baitcast reel but that didn’t backlash (hen’s nest), and in any case this time you’d consider that they’d have figured it out.

I like the newer, smaller spinning reels, however once more, for the sake of simplicity they’re not as handy for a youngster beginning out as a Zebco spincast reel, even the cheaper, nylon gear fashions.  But they’re nice to be taught on, and when you’re assured to step up that’s if you’ll recognize discovering one of many classic, better-made Johnsons and Shakespeares.

One of my absolute favorites is the previous inexperienced Johnson Century spincast mannequin, and the rationale I prefer it so nicely is as a result of, once more, its construct and small measurement.  It’s half the scale of the Shakespeares of the identical period, and but has the horsepower to land fish as much as ten kilos.  And, the Johnson had been sufficiently small to maneuver from one rod to a different should you needed to fish smaller.  Cost, if you discover a good one on Ebay?  About $40.00!

I’ve needed to take them down for repairs, however reassembly is a breeze, and should you want components there’s even sources on-line that make them simple to seek out.  I’m glad that there are folks nonetheless utilizing Shakespeare and Johnson reels which are a lot older than mine!

This is how I do it, and it’s been enjoyable for me.

And should you’re catching a 12-inch bluegill (just like the one above) on a Johnson Century with a light-weight rod…it’s going to be enjoyable for you, too.

‘Til next time, I’ve loved it.