Old school – New school?

[DZ]

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

[RIJIMMY]

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

[RIROCKHOUND]

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

[Bass Babe]

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.

[fishaholic18]

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

[SAXATILUS]

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.

[DZ]

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

[castn4bass]

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!!

[Krispy]

Originally Posted by DZ

Any more?

DZ

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

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

[justplugit]

Originally Posted by fishaholic18

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

Yup, new school today will be old school tomorrow.

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

[Squibby17]

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

[DZ]

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

[keeperreaper]

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.

[Krispy]

Some new school for DZ

[Flaptail]

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!

[bart]

SoBe Adrenaline puts red bull to shame, you new school guys are really outdated

new school- extreme fishing
old school- smart fishing

[JoeP]

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.

[RIROCKHOUND]

Great post Joe;

[DZ]

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.

[Diggin Jiggin]

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

[shadow]

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.

[DZ]

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

DZ

[tlapinski]

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

[shadow]

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.

[DZ]

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

[Pete_G]

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...

[eelskimmer]

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.

[Slipknot]

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

[whiplash]

Head lamps? What happened to tourches?