Is the old guard losing it? - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

piemma · 08-23-2005, 08:33 AM

OK, so I have no problem with younger people. My partner is 26 which I have stated before. 2 nights ago I fished with 2 friends form this board that are in their early 30's at one of my "honey holes." One of my friends got the biggest fish of his life, a 20 lber. He is new to this "rim fishing" that we do and he listens to eveything he is told. He doesn't burn spots. He doesn't "jump" spots. He is becoming a damn good surfman because he understands the ethics involved with this sport.

It not an AGE thing! It's an additude as Bill has repeatedly stated. It's like you guys haven't listened to anything that has been posted. Read Bill's post and READ between the lines. He's is stating some important things.

You know the same night my friend got his personal best, I hung a big fish. We were fishing a particularly dangerous spot with a big surge on, steep rocks, slime etc. My other friend didn't hesitate to go down the rocks to help land my fish and, in the process, took a wave over his head. I fish with these "young" guys because they are becoming the "old guard" They get it! They understand friendship, covering your partners back, and being ready to help. I trust these guys and would fish anywhere with them. You guys who fish the night watch in marginal condition, in dangerous places know what I am talking about.

ThrowingTimber · 08-23-2005, 08:41 AM

Nothing like a good leaderman in a heave

eelman · 08-23-2005, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piemma

OK, so I have no problem with younger people. My partner is 26 which I have stated before. 2 nights ago I fished with 2 friends form this board that are in their early 30's at one of my "honey holes." One of my friends got the biggest fish of his life, a 20 lber. He is new to this "rim fishing" that we do and he listens to eveything he is told. He doesn't burn spots. He doesn't "jump" spots. He is becoming a damn good surfman because he understands the ethics involved with this sport.

It not an AGE thing! It's an additude as Bill has repeatedly stated. It's like you guys haven't listened to anything that has been posted. Read Bill's post and READ between the lines. He's is stating some important things.

You know the same night my friend got his personal best, I hung a big fish. We were fishing a particularly dangerous spot with a big surge on, steep rocks, slime etc. My other friend didn't hesitate to go down the rocks to help land my fish and, in the process, took a wave over his head. I fish with these "young" guys because they are becoming the "old guard" They get it! They understand friendship, covering your partners back, and being ready to help. I trust these guys and would fish anywhere with them. You guys who fish the night watch in marginal condition, in dangerous places know what I am talking about.

I guess some people have a better way with words than I. Paul is lucky to find a couple of good guys he can fish with and trust !

BigFish · 08-23-2005, 09:12 AM

There are alot of guys on here I would trust.......if you truely love to fish, which I do, spend some time with new people from this site! I don't need a label on me....and even if I did......"Old Guard" would not be it! I do not claim myself a great fisherman! I have been fishing for stripes about 6 years now......got all the tools and toys....make my own plugs that catch, and I have been VP of my fishing club twice. I am as into surf fishing as you can get....but admittedly, I am not as talented as some but I do pretty well. I have my moments and I enjoy fishing with buddies and fishing with folks I have never met before. It might not work out every time, but I have made some great new friends and fishing buddies from opening myself up to new things. Even if I had a few 40's to my credit or even a 50....I would not label myself! I want to be known as one thing....fun to fish with! Not a newbie, not a sharpie....someplace right in the middle who enjoys stepping aside after I have gotten the skunk off and making sure my buddies hook up even if I have to yield my spot for a few moments to make that happen......or hand a stranger a tin or a plug when the feed is on and the only one hooking up is me cause I happen to have what they like......I have more fun when all around me are hooking up! I am sure #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& is a talented and hard fishing surf caster, just as I believe a few others here are great at what they do also......I have fished with better than me, and I have fished with a few who needed a little guidance and if I helped them, then great. I have been helped by a few also......my fishing buddies are pretty great at fishing....dare I say better than me, but we also feed off of each other....share info....we each prefer different spots for the most part but we fish them all together. I would rather catch a trophy fish with a couple of my buddies around me than to catch it all alone......its nice to have someone to reflect on the moment with and talk about it years from now and laugh......it is what its all about! #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& is right when he says it is a state of mind....its all what you want to get out of this fishing thing personally! I am getting out of it exactly what I want.....enjoyment, memories, friendships that are meaningful and longlasting......and I believe I get the same respect from my fellow fishermen that I give to them.....it might not be "old guard"......but it does just fine by me!

eelman · 08-23-2005, 09:16 AM

I would give anyone here a chance, I may not take them to my honey hole on the first trip but I would be willing to show what I know and then see what happens. Its hard to trust strangers, but hey, you never know. This is certainly a tough and demanding sport, no question about it. Lots of walking, tons of bug bites, constantly wet, losing sleep, its all really unnatural. It taxes you beyond your limits if done right.

I just dont take it lightly some do and thats fine for me its in the blood, part of who I am and I would rather die than not chase striped bass. There are some nice people out there and paul is right in that age does not amount to a hill of beans but, my luck has been the bad in the "who I meet department"

I wish it was different because I hate to fish alone, there are times when my partner cant make it and its always more fun to catch fish with a friend, not to mention how dangerous it is to fish alone around slippery boulders half a mile from your truck!

The other night, Steve lost his keys in the water right away, we hardley fished! I had no problem helping him look and then driving him all the way back home and back to the spot again. I missed a whole night of fishing but, I didnt care at all thats what good friends are for.

I would help anyone in need, I am not a monster, just serious about a sport I love.

Old guard/new guard-who cares! Just give me the right time of day when we run into each other and I am willing to help out!

I will tell you this, when I do take someone, I put them in the choice spot, I do everything I can to make sure they get a fish-or-at least give them the best chance possible, I talk alot, telling them everything I can to make it more fun for them. I like seeing someoine else get a good fish and I am hsppy for the.

When Eben got his fish all steve did was grab the kid behind the shoulders and congradulate him, he didnt pound him with questions, just gave him kudos's on a job well done and, I am sure to eben that meant alot ! To me that would mean more than catching the fish!

piemma · 08-23-2005, 09:19 AM

I'm starting a new thread so this thing can go to sleep......

eelman · 08-23-2005, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piemma

I'm starting a new thread so this thing can go to sleep......

A little testy now there paul

Hey Bigfish your on!

BigFish · 08-23-2005, 09:21 AM

Folks....I think we have found middle ground......lets fish it!

I am still hoping to get out with Piemma.....we were supposed to hook up last week but I could not make it happen.......I would love to get out with #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& this fall......I will take him to my spot first someplace sandy.....maybe he can take me rock hopping afterwards!

piemma · 08-23-2005, 09:24 AM

Larry:
Anytime. PMing

BigFish · 08-23-2005, 09:26 AM

See....now this is what its all about!

eelman · 08-23-2005, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piemma

Larry:
Anytime. PMing

Paul you have reached your "quota" on how many guys you can take

Your going to need a bus and start wearing the pide pipper hat

JoeP · 08-23-2005, 10:10 AM

I like Piemma's perspective on this whole thing. There is an entire "attitude" about this whole thing that starts with preparation of gear at home in winter and during the season, studying weather, tides, structure, bait, etc., reading, learning spots on your own because that is the best way to learn, keeping records and studying them, learning how to fish, and then finally fishing itself.

It is not only about just the fishing. Skip any of the above and your success is less. Also part of this attitude, for me anyway, is I enjoy every aspect of the above.

It's not about just buying some “popular” stuff you've read about because it "sounds" good, reading the PROJO or OTW, etc. for spots or asking people just where the fish are. It's like anything in life -- If you don't learn on your own and put time and effort into achieving success you will not succeed.

There is also a very secretive and protective aspect of the attitude. Except for the 2-3 fishing friends I have, I don’t ask someone where he caught his fish (even though I may want too inside), I hate reading when someone asks about spots or when someone posts about spots, I don’t brag or post about the fish I caught or didn’t catch, when someone asks me if I caught any fish when I’m fishing or walking back to my Jeep my standard answer is “a couple small ones”, etc. The only thing I really like to talk openly about is gear and general how to’s because I think that is the best use of the Internet.

But, remember, this is fishing and is supposed to be enjoyable. Quit if you don’t like it. What I don't get is all the fighting & bitterness that comes out sometimes for stupid reasons.

I can’t say much about Piemma’s comments on fishing buddies because I fish 99% of the time alone as the guy I fished with hasn’t fished much this year and when he does fish he doesn’t last more than an hour or 2. It is nice to share the fishing experience with someone but I still enjoy it as much.

I also don’t fish much more than 1-2 times/week with a 6 year old boy, 3 year old boy, and 1 week old boy at home. I have other more enjoyable and rewarding priorities with my wife & kids.

However, the attitude remains the same even if the fishing part doesn’t happen as much.