Old techniques vs. New tactics

[Krispy]

How much effort do you spend in learning new tactics versus using/learning already successful techniques?

I see alot of money going into the "hot topics" of the month, even specialized rods and reels. How much faith is worth inve$ting in certain tactics over tried and true methods. Its seems to be more striking in the surfcasting segment than with boaters, that in 50 years of modern SB fishing, not much has changed in how or what is used to catch cow bass.

Do you think there will be a new angle to catching cows, that hasnt already been discovered?

[likwid]

You mean like the Saltwater Sportsman article about the guy using the revolutionary massive bunker spoons?

Reinventing the wheel indeed.

[Joe]

Its ok to be a skeptic - just so long as you're not a closed-minded one.

Some of it is fluff to be sure - but not everything. Surfcasters seem to be in two camps: one that follows every trend and another that refuses to budge - regardless of the facts.

What was that Crazy Alberto line?
"Always keep your mind open to new techniques and methods."

[striprman]

Depends on where you go I suppose. If you caught them there with "traditional" methods, why try something different ? Time of year, tide, local baitfish and other factors may influence how certain locations are "fished" but when certain spots are known to produce on traditional methods, thats what I stick with.

[Rockport24]

I'm pretty much a newbie, so I try not to get caught up in the "hot new" trends and I am concentrating on the tried and true. Gotta learn to walk before you learn to run..etc. There are so many damn "tried and true" methods though that sometimes I think I'll never learn them all and I probably won't. That said, when surfmasters I trust (like you dudes on this site) come out and praise a new method (such as the mightly rigged sluggo), I listen and go home and rig sluggos

[Skitterpop]

who told you what I`ve been thinking

[Joe]

Videos are very convincing.

[Krispy]

Rigged Sluggos are good example.
A newer product, that uses new tactics, that can use specialized rods that one wouldnt normally use with older techniques. Has had moderate cow success in the surf to date.
VS.
Live eels or rigged eels that have caught countless trophy bass over the decades.
Where/why would you invest time/$ in one over the other?

[Pete F.]

Originally Posted by Krispy

Rigged Sluggos are good example.
A newer product, that uses new tactics, that can use specialized rods that one wouldnt normally use with older techniques. Has had moderate cow success in the surf to date.
VS.
Live eels or rigged eels that have caught countless trophy bass over the decades.
Where/why would you invest time/$ in one over the other?

I think sluggos are an easy option, live or rigged eels require more time and thought, they are'nt just there in your bag along with plugs. But I don't think sluggos are the same as eels either...

[Joe]

I'm not sure soft plastics are a good example of a hype product. Because it ain't hype. I'd say its more of an evolution.
They weigh at close to 2oz - so a moderate plug rod can throw one -most people have a rod with a 2oz sweet spot.
You don't need any special reel.
They come in a host of different colors and patterns.
They don't stink, or rot, or die. So you can stick them in your pocket and not have to worry about forgetting them and ruining a wading coat.
Their cheap enough to throw in boulder field.
You can present them with a lot of action.
The baitshop does not need to be open and you don't have to worry about looking into a tank full of shoestrings.
In the hands of someone who knows what they are doing, they will outfish almost anything.

[likwid]

And there's times when Bass are on something and will straight up ignore eels or rubbah.

Seen it happen enough times.

My father has a story about fishing bass working flats somewhere and the only thing that actually turned them after throwing the kitchen sink at them was

an Al's goldfish.

[Sea Dangles]

Originally Posted by Joe

I'm not sure soft plastics are a good example of a hype product. Because it ain't hype. I'd say its more of an evolution.
They weigh at close to 2oz - so a moderate plug rod can throw one -most people have a rod with a 2oz sweet spot.
You don't need any special reel.
They come in a host of different colors and patterns.
They don't stink, or rot, or die. So you can stick them in your pocket and not have to worry about forgetting them and ruining a wading coat.
Their cheap enough to throw in boulder field.
You can present them with a lot of action.
The baitshop does not need to be open and you don't have to worry about looking into a tank full of shoestrings.
In the hands of someone who knows what they are doing, they will outfish almost anything.

Someone has been drinking McKenna's coolaid.

[Krispy]

Originally Posted by Joe

I'm not sure soft plastics are a good example of a hype product. Because it ain't hype. I'd say its more of an evolution.
They weigh at close to 2oz - so a moderate plug rod can throw one -most people have a rod with a 2oz sweet spot.
You don't need any special reel.
They come in a host of different colors and patterns.
They don't stink, or rot, or die. So you can stick them in your pocket and not have to worry about forgetting them and ruining a wading coat.
Their cheap enough to throw in boulder field.
You can present them with a lot of action.
The baitshop does not need to be open and you don't have to worry about looking into a tank full of shoestrings.
In the hands of someone who knows what they are doing, they will outfish almost anything.

Thats more about convenience, than anything else Joe. I dont find eels much trouble to keep either.
And other than some "nice bass" I personally havent heard of any genuine cows taken on that style plastics.
Maybe the Storm plastics have really changed how some fishing styles are done in the canal or spring fisheries, but again I havent heard anything regarding size.
What about topwater spook type plugs? Its been popular in the salt for a few years and catches some fish, but how is it comparatively to other large bodied plugs that proved themselves through previous generations.

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by Krispy

Rigged Sluggos are good example.
A newer product, that uses new tactics, that can use specialized rods that one wouldnt normally use with older techniques. Has had moderate cow success in the surf to date.
VS.
Live eels or rigged eels that have caught countless trophy bass over the decades.
Where/why would you invest time/$ in one over the other?

I don't know if the Sluggo thing is "hype" but it's for damn sure it's an example of good marketing. I can't tell you how many times people walk into the shop, say they just saw the Steve McKenna OTW, and then rip black sluggos and all the accessories off the walls in the shop. How 'bout Butterfly jigs? People are simply nuts about them.

If I'm asked if I fish them, I tell them my opinion. A couple of expensive hooks, a expensive piece of rubber, time spent rigging and then a bluefish cuts the ass end off of it, right up to the hook. It drives me nuts. They work VERY well yes, for me it's just too frustrating. I'd fish an eel before that. It's cheaper. I don't question plastic's effectiveness, other then the lack of a true cow being caught on them. That will almost certainly change this year simply due to how many people will be fishing them. I also think the love affair will fade a bit if the coast is littered with 2 pound bluefish this year.

And yeah, I also made sure when taking the famous "Iron Mike 60# photo" plastered every where that the needlefish was in plain sight. No one can ever tell me people don't buy into hype or marketing. I'd discuss the bone over orange plugs on everyone's websites these days too, but people might not believe me.

I also think in the case of Sluggos, needlefish, Spooks, and almost all plugs for that matter the guy driving is the most important thing. Some people are just better at making any plug look alive with the way they make it work in their hands. Those who catch large regularly could do it on anything, they just have their preferences. Referencing the Ironman again, we have a 63 on a skin plug, a 60 on a 3.5 ounce blue/white Habs, a 53 (I think) on a blue/white Danny, and another 50 on a blurple Habs. That's definitely spreading the love around, not counting the repeat hits on the Habs. Steve McKenna could have caught that 40 in the OTW vid on anything, imo. He had the idea to be in that place at that time and is simply better then most at making any plug look alive.

I'm a traditionalist for the most part; give me plugs, bucktails, tins, and a few plastics in blue over white, black, white, and bunker (for my Storms) and I'm happy.

As always, in many cases people will catch the most on what they fish the most. I do my damage with Dannys closely followed by needles simply because those are the plugs I prefer to fish.

[tlapinski]

Originally Posted by Pete_G

No one can ever tell me people don't buy into hype or marketing. I'd discuss the bone over orange plugs on everyone's websites these days too, but people might not believe me..

What is the deal on that color suddenly showing up all over the place? Did a paint company run a sale on bone and orange paints?????

[striprman]

can you post the rest of that article ?