yeah .....
 

ya open a 55 gallon barrel of smelly jelly and dip yourself in it....
:huh: so now?
if you throw yourself into a swirling, broiling, frothing mass of
extremely hungry stripers...are you commiting fishacide
or are you a hero for protecting the resource? :rollem:

Interesting Joe, and you are on to an interesting topic. Have you read Thomas McGuane "The Longest Silence"? The forward to that book is about why people fish what they are after, and how people who lead lives of significance with some turmoil are the true recipients of all that fishing offers. Probably the best half dozen pages I have ever read in a fishing related book.

Maybe we can get Krispy to send us some of his stuff before he jumps. :eek5:
Don't do anything too rash Krispy, you still got beer. :D :hf1: :gu:

someone hasn't been out fishing in a while...

Most of us only have so many hours in a day (and so many hours in a tide) to fish, so I like to be as effective as I can within that time.

A lot of my purchasing through the years has been driven by efficiency, both when I was a kid fishing freshwater and now that I'm a little older in the salt. I don't want to clean my reels, so I have Van Staals. I hate patching my waders, so I buy whatever I feel is the most durable. Then I bought a wetsuit so I didn't have to worry about leaks. :bl: Easy to sharpen hooks, long lasting hook files, durable plug bags. And so on and so on.

For the past year or so I haven't wanted or needed to spend as much. I definitely hit a plateau or a spot where the gear I own is working for me rather then against me, or at least not slowing me down. If something new comes out there's a good chance I'll try it, but for the time being my purchases are mostly hooks, split rings, Fireline, and Power Pro.

This doesn't really answer the question as to whether you're jaded, smarter, or just poor, but it is why I don't find myself spending as much lately. I would imagine it applies to a lot of other people too; a lot of purchases I see at the shop are to solve a problem, whatever it may be.

maybe not here......
 

on this thread......not meaning to hijack the topic....

but i would like to hear the advantages and or disadvantages of
having a wetsuit instead of wearing waders....

and how it improves your fishing methodology. :huh:

For some of my spots it's just easier and safer, plus I can get out further in spots where it matters. It's also liberating not to have to worry when I cross a hairy spot to reach a safe spot. If I get knocked over by a wave I just ride it out and float till I can safely stand again, which isn't an option in waders. I rarely actually "skish".

Downside is that a wetsuit can smell a whole lot worse then waders if you don't keep it well rinsed and give it a chance to dry every once in a while...:sick: Some people also feel it's too hot in some conditions, but I've always found waders and a drytop to be fairly warm outfit too. In a wetsuit if I get hot I just jump in and let some cold water in.

I think the wetsuit is one of those things where you don't know what you might be missing till you try it. Some spots you'll gain nothing and you might as well be in hip boots, others it will allow you to reach better water or simply do it safely. I'm also not that tall or heavy, I start sliding on the rocks in relatively small waves when others stay firmly planted. I don't think it really replaces waders and a top for most people, it just gives you another option. Lastly, I just enjoy paddling around out there and I feel safer so I often wear a wetsuit instead of waders.

i'm in the same boat you are, except I'VE always been like that. To buy a car it took me 5 months and a drive to Wisconsin to get the one I wanted. Its no wonder I don't have a boat yet :wall: