It was pointed out to me that I seem to always have a "theme" when I go fishing...last outing it was all Italian reels, I've taken all Bretton, I was pondering carrying a SpinWonder, Royal Maroon and President II next time, basically a Shakespeare walk through time. Of course I want to take tackle that's appropriate for the intended use but I like there to be some symmetry to what I'm carrying.
Todays theme - cheap easy and sassy!.
Today I can be seen strutting at the Walmart showing some reel attitude with my trusty old jigmaster with the sassy red factory trimmings!
I usually bring something weird/new to me that I wanna play with, and something more mundane/reliable because I also like eating fish. And usually something heavier in case the big stuff is biting that day. So usually at least 3.
I primarily freshwater fish,at my pond I have a vintage rotation & usually use a new combo until I catch a fish on it. I used to always take 3,a bass pole w/worm,a crappie jig pole,& a live bait bream pole with bobber at other ponds.I rarely use vintage combos in boats for rash reasons & they always have rod floats on them otherwise,I have had modern combos pulled out of boats & off docks.I keep a combo with telescopic rod in all my vehicles,you never know...
Saltwater:
Pier or surf,I don't have many choices,but my best are Mitchell 402 w/PUM & my narrowed jigmaster :fish
Not really. I think of how I wanna fish, but I always bring the same basic rotation. It used to be lure trolling, lure casting, bait catching, bait fishing.
Got no motor anymore, so trolling's out. Years ago I used to be able paddle/peddle my yak fast enough to troll for about 200yds. at a time and it worked pretty well. I no longer have the stamina. Trolling motors worked great, but just don't last long enough to justify the cost and hassle anymore. So now I have the usual 4 rigs, lure-wise, one for bottom-jig fishing, one for lure casting, then one small spinner for bait catching and one conventional for bait fishing.The only good thing about no motor system is less electrical equipment/weight to deal with.
I really miss not having a motor; trolling the reef in the dark early AM was absolutely the funnest way for me.
Quote from: Joel.B on December 15, 2025, 02:17:42 PMTodays theme - cheap easy and sassy!.
Today I can be seen strutting at the Walmart showing some reel attitude with my trusty old jigmaster with the sassy red factory trimmings!
🤗😂!
I fish mainly on charter boats at the Channel Islands off our coast. I'll use my old Sabre grafast rods and Newell reels if we're surface fishing for calico bass, bonito or barracuda (the 3 Bs). Takes me back to my youth and adds a certain cachet to the outing. If we're targeting gamefish which are significantly larger I use more modern gear. It's not that the older gear won't work, it's more about capitalizing on the opportunities which might be few and far between.