Was just wondering what most members think/feel about the ever increasing advantages fishermen (and women :hee:) have over fish with the newer rods and reels that are out there. Of course it is still difficult to land fish depending on location and scenario, but with reels such as a VS and Shimano Stellas that offer water resistance and extra smoothe drags... does anyone think that in the near future, rods and reels will be so sophisticated that it will take the fun out of "fishing"? I mean, just browsing through BP and Cabela's magazine I have already began to see an increase in reels with "chips" in them as well as "assisted" reels (though these are mostly commercially used). I don't know... I guess I was just interested in hearing what others had to say on the subject.... Boring Monday night up here at school (-15 out too :uhoh:). Aslo... I dont mean to piss anyone off that has anyone of these beautiful reels or high-end rods... I hope to have a VS250 for graduation this year :hihi:

its unlikely equipment will take the fun out of fishing.People will choose the equipment they want to have fun with. Suppose someone has a spot where they catch a hundred fish a day on bait and a 700 dollar reel and they get board. They just go get a fly rod and suddenly the same place and fish are exciting again.

Now if you are simply a meat fisherman , I guess you could ring the fun out of fishing by using a net or trap , etc just to get fish without concern for fun.

Another example would be like what happens in the fall when there are a million small fish schooled up and blitzing. You can use a jig and get a fish every cast or you can try a popper for the visual excitement of topwater action even though you may miss fish now and then.

Only you can let fishing get boaring. Equipment won't do it in my lifetime.

I hope you graduate mike, so you can get that 250 :D

I know it is an old saying but it remains true; many of those improvements are not intended to catch fish, just fishermen.

Computer controlled casting brakes on reels with 140 yard capacity? Really? What happened to just putting some thicker oil in the bearings? Save yourself $500!

Seems that most of these things (not just fishing) are intended to idiotproof the chosen endeavor; problem is, God keeps updating his idiots.

The only thing that's really revolutionized fishing in the last 25 years is the introduction of braided lines, IMO.
Minus that, my gear isn't much different than what I started with.....GSB 120M with a Daiwa BG 30. Only difference now is the reels are a bit smoother,have better drags, and cost 5X as much on a normalized basis.
On the conventional side, I started in the mid 80's with a Newell 229/ZZiplex and still fish pretty much the same combo.

I'm in favor of almost anything that gives me more time on the water and less time fixing stuff