This past season I had the opportunity to cast with a few “younger than me” surf guys. On one particular instance we fished a very “popular” location in Westerly on a dreaded weekend night. As we scrambled around the rocks I noticed that most of the younger guys who were casting had their lights around their head. Years ago I used to laugh at guys who fished the beach with a light wrapped around their foreheads. On this night in Westerly I may have been the only guy with a neck light around my neck – most guys probably laughing at me. This event really reinforced the fact that I’m “old school”.

So – here are a few examples of what I consider old school/new school themes in today’s surf. Feel free to add more.

1. Neck lights worn around neck – old school; worn on head – new school
(PS – real old school if you use the old justrite lights with 4 D-cell batteries)

2. Bass referred to in pounds – old school; referred to in inches – new school

3. Using mono – old school; using braid – new school

4. Taping reel to rod – old school; using reel seat – new school

5. Being “closed mouth” – old school; broadcasting – new school

6. One for the boat guys: I can’t see my ranges but I think we’re in the right spot – old school; I won’t stop until the electronics show fish – new school


Any more?

DZ

Based on that, I guess I'm old school. Everthing except for the reel seat thing, I don't tape my reel on.

Asking someone where they caught a particular fish; New School
Using your light CONSTANTLY; new school

I don't think it matters too much where you wear your light or what gear you use, as long as you're respectful to others and interested in learning to better your fishing. Whatever works and doesn't step on others' toes. It's not so much new school as new (or maybe not-so-new) people who just don't get it that you don't shine your light in the water, you don't fish 5 feet away from a stranger who was there first... I'm new school, but I'm not an idiot.

I think it's called..Changing with the times.

Why is it that your either "old school" or "new school". Thats strictly black and white. How about the grey areas. I only have eight years in the surf so does that make me new school? I wear a light around my head because that's what makes sense to me, the light goes where my eyes go what is better than that. I would much rather referr to my fish in pounds, and always wiegh a fish thats worth wieghing. In some situations braid is far superior to mono, why not use both. And their are definatley some "old school" doods who run thier mouths or burn a guy who showed them a good spot. I prefer to keep my mouth shut unless I trust a person. It is not fair to lump everybody into just two groups. Just my two cents and no offense intended.

Before this gets out of hand - this thread is meant be be fun - not confrontational. I'm just pointing some things out that I have noticed.

I really don't care how anybody looks when they fish...
Just wanted to point out how we old guys did it - we're the minority now.

Please - just in fun.

Thanks,
DZ

Old school---New school,,,,,,blah blah blah , If you're out there show respect for those who are in the area, give em some space. If you wanna use a dinosaur for a rod and reel , good luck. I've lost big fish because of old crappy equip so I prefer to stack the deck in my favor and use up to date equipment thats maintained with new line, whatever the situation calls for, mono, braid, whatever. As far as spots go, I don't OWN any myself. Be reasonable and tell those who won't run home and post it on the internet, or write how and where to info with arrows etc. in some rag mag for a couple of bucks for anyone to see. Just stirring the pot!!

Any more?

DZ
"Old" school = in bed by 9pm
New school = in bed by 9am

"Old school" = smells funny
New school = smells fishy

I think it's called..Changing with the times.

Yup, new school today will be old school tomorrow. :hihi:

New school-- "fish on"
Old school--- "got one"

At the age of 24 I probably fall into the "new school" age bracket, yet I would like to think I maintain some old school morals.

Off the top of my head

New School

• Breathable waders
• Head lamp
• Not afraid to walk miles upon miles
• sleeping on the beach isn't so bad
• still drive a honda civic cause they dont have the $ for a truck
• Ask too many questions at the local tackle shop
• Plug bag is a converted Camera bag with 5 plugs

Old School

• Canvas Waders
• Big maglite flash light
• Knows the spots they want to fish and most don't involve a long walk
• Back has gone bad from spending too many nights sleeping on the beach
• Added new mats and rod holders to the already decked out F-150
• Keeps info to themselves, and local store knows there name and what they came in to get.
• Plug bag is more like tackle box with over 20 assorted habs lures

Again I'm just having fun with this don't read into things too seriously :jump1:

Squibby, Krispy,
That's the spirit of this thread - good examples!

I just can't seem to make it till dawn anymore - unless I have an Red Bull which reminds me of another one.

no doze tablets - old school, Red Bull - new school

I like Red Bull - a little new school rubbing off on me.

DZ

Old school = learning to fish from your own experiences.

New school = learning how to fish from someone else's experiences (internet).

Old school = finding spots on your own.

New school = begging for spots on the 'net or reading about some in a mag.

http://ctfisherman.com/data/364blockisland04006-med.jpg
Some new school for DZ

I will try this D.

Old school= rebels, new school=Yozuris
Old school= Bucktail Jigs, new school= Wildeyes
Old school= penn 704, new school=Van stal
Old school=hand gaff, new school=Boga grip
Old school=sm., med and jumbos=new school 28 is a keeper(?)
Old school=herring. new school=lg. 9"wildeyes
Old school=drive on beach at Eastham to P-Town, new school=P-Town and truro
Old school= bait on beach,new school=seals
Old school=ande clear leader, new school=Seaguar Fluorocarbon
Old school= wooden plugs=new school=wooden plugs
Old school= 6'6" with wader crotch just above my knees, new school= waders in tall.
Old school= Sperry topsider rain gear, new school=Aquaskinz
I still use rebels ( my f-80s and 7" windcheaters), I still use a hand gaff for lip gaffing, I still use a neck light on a piece of old fly line
and throw some old Capn' Bills, Atoms and Creek Chub giant jointed pikies!:kewl:

SoBe Adrenaline puts red bull to shame, you new school guys are really outdated :hihi:

new school- extreme fishing
old school- smart fishing

Based upon many of the "old school" and "new school" examples stated above, starting with DZ's initial list, I bet there are both younger guys and older guys (in both age and experience) who do some things "old school" and some things "new school".

I would venture to bet that most of the more serious old & young surf-fishermen would apply the "old school" attitude type conditions listed above (keeping your mouth shut, not flashing your light all over the place, keeping your mouth shut, not making alot of noise while fishing, keeping your mouth shut, showing etiquette towards fellow fishermen...), while many serious old & young surf-fishermen apply many of the "new school" equipment type tactics listed (using braid, reel seats, newer plugs, newer technology rods & reels, breathable waders...).

In other words, old school attitudes should never change while new school tactics should evolve with technology to improve fishing skills.

Great post Joe;

Way to go Flap - I knew there were some more of us here.
All right on the mark - boy we have to get together someday. Maybe on the ice this winter - plenty of time to talk then.

JoeP - well said. Depending on your age I'd say you were older than your years.

DZ

Evolution happens even in monkeys.

old school

atoms with lead solder wrapped around the tail
first berth,second berth,...
4H hopkins
rod jocks
wader belt is clothes line (always fits and doubles to drag back fish on a long walk)
flash light code to talk to your partner way down the beach

here's one an old school friend thought me that many new school guys don't do,taking the drag clicker off so noone hears you fighting a good one.

Good one shadow - that was also passed to me many tides ago by a Montauk friend of mine - still do it.

DZ

There's nothing better than the "new school" schooling the "old school". :vamp:

dz most guys dont relize you have more control w/ a light around your neck,you can keep your light pointed in front of you as you walk and still look at the water.without puting unwanted light on the water.

There's nothing better than the "new school" schooling the "old school".


Tlap,
That happens to me more than I'd like to admit - but its sweet when the tide turns.

DZ

I blend old school and new school on the flashlights. LED headlamp on my head and a conventional PrincetonTec flashlight on a fly line around my neck. Best of both worlds, plus redundancy. Usually I carry a 3rd light in my plug bag.

Sometimes I wonder about the headlight myth anyways, there's plenty of lighthouses up and down the coast blasting the water with light. Not that I'm not careful where I point my light, but sometimes I wonder...

Gawd, there really are some old school types on this net.

Here be two more old school
--Remove plug or lure from line before exiting the water, whether
you have fish on stringer or not. new school-- plugs still on rod
on top of buggy.
--Plug bag is old army musette bag with six plugs. new school,
$40 bag with several plastic inserts full of new stuff.

old school - jigging the canal with conventional
new school - jigging the canal with spinning

Head lamps? What happened to tourches?:rotf3:

im neither.. i wear a head lamp around my neck. I wear a green slicker over my aquaskinz...I fish conventional reels on big fiberglass rods and leave my graphite rods and van staal reel at home in a box.. I fish wooden danny plugs when i have dozens of yozuris hanging on my wall. I do, or at least i used to broadcast, but never reveal anything about where i was..

i guess i am the new-old school. :hihi:

Old school, new school - what's the difference once the head is blown off?

dz - that was a funny night, huh?

(a few friends fishing together) old school - w/ little said, you all show up the next night at about the same time to hit the correct tide, even if it were a different spot. new school - "where you guys want to fish tomorrow?"

old school - light, guarded talk between friends (if you were lucky); new school - internet/internet forums, internet reports, email, and pm's

old school - flashlight hardly put on and if it was it was cupped; new school - lights on the water, in your eyes, where you're casting, where you're walking, on the crab near your foot, just on more than off

old school - mustad hooks; new school - vmc's

I prefer the old school mindset in most facets, but technology is too good to ignore.
Old school- hitting fish one night with a select few and going back the next and seeing only the same faces
New school- hitting those same fish with a select few, reading about it the next day one the web with mapquest direction to the spot with explicit details on how to fish it, going back and seeing every fisherman with a computer there waiting for the bite.

I must be "middle aged school" then because I do some of both. :rotf2: I have a few:

New School - Mugging someone because they just caught a schoolie.
Old School - Saying nice fish after someone lands a slob and continuing to cast to your spot because you know there's a bigger fish holding there.

New School - Someone with a bag full of shiny new plugs because they heard they catch fish.
Old School - Someone with a bag full of beat up old plugs because they know they catch fish.

New School - Fishing Storm Shads with the hook protectors still on them.
Old School - Not fishing Storm Shads because you know the hooks are garbage.

Didn't we go thru this last winter with the "New guard/Old guard" thing?

As long as you respect yourself,others and the environment does it really matter what "school" you attend?

i have learned the way hard since i was old enough to go on a dark jetty at night. i learned not to do a off the beach cast with rocks all around me(you know the rest), not to hook fish where you have no place to land it,not to shine your light into the surf when fish are breaking right at your feet,not to say "fish on" when you are hammering bass unless you want 100 other fisherman cuttleing up with you for the night( unless there hot girls:beat: ),to never leave home with out a change of clothes and a jug of water under the seat,to never leave home with out the fly rod,to always have a back up plan in case you spot is not in "Character", to wear a plug bag on your surf belt and not slung over your sholder. i fish with wood,plastic and soft plastic. i use glass and graphite rods,i use spinning and conventional set ups,i use mono and braid.

i am a independent thinker and dont rely on fishing reports from online

Your not old school, your an old fool if you don't change with the times.
Old school=before the internet
New school= after the internet

old school - launch tin boat from surf
new school - launch kayak from surf


pretty close there Goose :)

I've tried that light on the head thingy, but I just keep falling over. :bl2:

Old School : Digging or Jigging your own bait.
New School : Turning your own lures.
Old School : Ray-O-Vac in the back pocket that dies in 15 minutes flat.
New School: Ray-O-Vac on your head with a red lens and AAA batteries that last years.
Old School: Bias Tires on the beach and pinched tubes.
New School: Radial tubeless tires that rarely get a flat on the beach.

Old School: Chunkin' Mackeral
New School: Chunkin Clams

Old School: Sears Rod and reel
New School: Walmart Rod & Reel

Old School: 6 pack of PBRs
New School: 6 pack of Miller Lite

Old School: Catching Large Bluefish and being hammered by dark because you were bleep faced before the bass came
New School: Catching Large Bluefish and being hammered by dark because you were bleep faced before the bass came

Old School: Bragging about it at the tackle shop
New School: Bragging about it at online


Just a quick light hearted "The more things change the more they stay the same"... While a lot of things have certainly changed some good, some bad, a lot that revolves around fishing still reflects your character and those that have helped you along the way :btu: ... And it's all good...

old school - launch tin boat from surf
new school - launch kayak from surf


build it slip.. build it :love:

Old school=bottles
New school=cans
Old school=papers
New school=pipe
Old school=fish
New school=catch
Old school=live and let live
New school=kill and eat
Old school=drink and drive
New school= " " "

Old - Assinippie linen - New - Power pro
Old - Sqidder. New -525 mag
Old - Split Bamboo New - Graphite
Old - eel skin rigs New - Sluggos
Old - Live Herring Storm rubber
Old - clothes line for a fish stringer that you filed until the fish dragged you. ( or at least until you sold em) anyone still have a ticket from the docks? 9 cents a lb???
New - Looking for a fifty.
Old - deciding on Nauset or The Race.
Old - sleeping in the dog house - New sleeping in a BED in the camper.
and on and on and on!:cheers: :buds:

Old School- long flowing nose hairs

New School- Long flowing sideburns

I wear my light on my neck, cause if I wear it on my head, I can't get the line in the right spot in my bifocals to tie a knot.
Not sure if that's Old school or just old?

I wear my light on my neck, cause if I wear it on my head, I can't get the line in the right spot in my bifocals to tie a knot.
Not sure if that's Old school or just old?

:rotfl:

I wear my light on my neck, cause if I wear it on my head, I can't get the line in the right spot in my bifocals to tie a knot.
Not sure if that's Old school or just old?
That's funny.:hihi:
I think that's classified as "OLD"...Clammer has that problem too.:hidin:

New school.........skinz plug bag

Old School..........5 gallon bucket which doubled as seat

Old school new
school need to learn though I burn baby burn like disco inferno ...
:buds:

Try finding the right distance to hold swivel or plug at night. Light on hat is to high usually when trying to get the appropriate distance. Bending head over to point light down at swivel or the next plug your tying on. What work best years ago was sticking little black light in mouth that was tied around neck and holding it between pursed lips until the task was completed. This is old school, no doubt.

on how you look at it.....:wiggle:

i have learned ....... not to say "fish on" when you are hammering bass unless you want 100 other fisherman cuttleing up with you for the night( unless there hot girls:beat:


Are you referring to me? ;)

Oh, and I am definitely 'old school.' :cheers:

Old school new
school need to learn though I burn baby burn like disco inferno ...
:buds:

:huh:
uhoh, looks like TT is stating the weekend a little early!!!
:buds: :cheers: :gu: :spin:

atta boy! :laughs: :cheers:

Old School - Working class guys subsidizing their fishing by selling fish.
New School - Professionals who have more money than time.

Every day you are in school. Hang on to what ever really good stuff like tackle and techniques you have learned you can rely on. Keep checking out new stuff to look for ideas and improvements to old methods or to adjust to changing conditions.

Old school -eels
New school--plastic eel looking things.

Joe -- sounds like you been there done that !!
I used to pray for a good week to pay for gas!!!:sled: :walk:

new school : Redbull
new, new school: Provigil.

old school: my dad running the cockpit.
new school: me running the cockpit after the tide ends, the bite dies, and el capitan gives me the greenlight to "try that new crap".

old school- 2 pc glass rods
new school 1 pc graphites

Old school - penn everything
New school - everything else

old school- made in the USA
new school -made everywhere else

Old school ( blue/white atoms, hopkins, white creek chub popper)
New school ( every color imaginable Needlefish, loaded swimmers, customs, etc.)

Old school -wire leaders
New school - fluorcoarbon or heavy mono

Old School- kill, eat and/or sell your catch
New school - catch and release

Old school - Heavy gear, heavy mono
New school-flyrods, balanced gear, and braids.

Old school- boyfriends/girlfriends
New school -everything else

Old school-safe sex
New school-everything else.


Happy New Year.

Lets face it old school has it tough. For exmple

Old school needs nail clipper to cut line--teeth no
longer come together. New School still got teeth.

Old school needs to put on specs in addition to light.
Fingers no longer able to tie knots by feel alone.
New School should not need either, should learn to
tie knot by feel.

Happy New Year new and old school.

Old school needs nail clipper to cut line--teeth no
longer come together. New School still got teeth.

Happy New Year new and old school.

It's not easy to bite through 50# Power Pro with young teeth either... :tooth:

Biting through Power pro gives new meaning to FLOSSSIIINNGG!:cheers:

Old school - likes to fish alone
New school - has to fish with 3 other guys

Old school - Gear is falling apart, but lots of time to use it
New school - top of the line gear, but no time to use it

Old school - makes a fish call after the fishing dies
New school - On the cell phone while fighting the first fish

Old school - exaggerates catches because of failing memory
new school - exaggerates catches to inflate ego

It's not easy to bite through 50# Power Pro with young teeth either... :tooth:

Old school 17 lb Ande (maybe equivalent diameter in braid), anymore is overkill.

Got to go get my tux on. HAPPY NEW YEAR :happy: :buds:

In other words, old school attitudes should never change while new school tactics should evolve with technology to improve fishing skills.
.....yup, smart school.

new school: me too!
old school: you too?

New school - top of the line gear, but no time to use it


Way too true! :hihi:

old school, looking for a pair of waders with a zippered fly.
new school, looking for a pair of waders with a velcro fastener..

what if we use old school gear (glass lamis and squidders) sometimes and new school gear other times?

how about a Harnel with a Squidder and Arra Lami and a 525 mag ??? I DO! :cheers: :fishslap:

searched for definition of old school, got this :kewl:

:btu: Hey Karl ...:eyes: :eyes: :claps: :claps: :btu:

Old School: Dory

New School: Kayak

:jump:

what if we use old school gear (glass lamis and squidders) sometimes and new school gear other times?

you have the best of both worlds...

Old Old school = OARS

New School = foot controlled trolling motor

Old School: Dory

New School: Kayak

:jump:
Guess you did'nt read OTW this month, dories are gonna be the new Yuppie boat.:poke:

:btu: Hey Karl ...:eyes: :eyes: :claps: :claps: :btu:


:hihi:
yep Don...

Eyes WIDE open.....
lips zipped shut.....

U know... the "old" way.


bluefishercat, them yuppie dory's.... Where will they put the flyrod holders, and the winerack? ;)....
Will they have room for young Biff, and Muffy, too?

I'm niether.
I'm a dinosaur.

searched for definition of old school, got this :kewl:

Karl, Michael Jackson is old school. :huh: :)


-

Old Skool: 3 Bombas on a boat of Jeremy Point trolling hoochies for blues.
New Skool: Bombas OB with various and sundry friends smashing topwater for large!

OS: freezing cold in vynyl waders for three weeks to catch a dink.
NS: cozy and warm in Aquaskinz, just waiting for them to come to us.

OS: Fishy fishy in the brook with our old pal Ray "Cookie" Ferrioli.
NS: Getting mugged by bassmaster and having plug surfing contests while extholling the virtues of the Twisted Tea and Diet Mike's.

OS: Bomba's in trouble for 4 wheelin a little off the beaten path on Sandy Neck.
NS: Bomba's smuggling in pizzas to the fourteen hour line to buy a pass for the OB.

OS: Bats is bugs, I eat Bugs!
NS: Twenty rangers on four-wheelers bird watching on our tax dollar!
Later,
Rick

This is meant to be humorous so lets not get a feathers up:wave:

Old School
Parking your truck were people will think you are and then jumping in a buddies truck to fish were the fish are.All under the cover of the darkness
New School
Driving in a Hummer caravan at 3 am (with a high beabs on)and parking inches from your truck.After all "you cant be too far away if your truck is here"
Old School
Learning to unhook the fish on a new moon without using a flashlight.Any means necessary not to give up location
New School
LED lights synchronizations exercise with buddies before a trip "Ok ,listen up guys.If you got a bluefish put on a green LED and yellow for a weakfish.If you get a bass ,gives us 20 red flashes and will be right over."
Old School
Comparing the size of your cows
New School
Comparing the size of your Bogas
Old School
Bringing a nights catch to the fish market for sale
New School
Buying the nights catch at the fish market after the trip (It keeps the truck clean for soccer practice)
Old School
Eyes bugging out from lack of sleep
New School
Eyes bugging out from reading posted reports on the net

Post of the year goes to Zeno:happy:

Old School : Oil Lanterns, me and dad use those.. although we have some new school stuff , the head lights

Post of the year goes to Zeno:happy:
What can I say ....I have my moments