What tackle do you use ?

[Ranger99]

Earlier,  I was talking to a young
relative about fishing, and I guess
I just assumed everybody had at
least a minimal knowledge of
fishing.  Looks like the later
generations didn't get the same
sort of upbringing my generation
got.
I spent a good while explaining
about the different rods and reels
I've used, and what I used them
for.  I didn't get very deep into the
different ends of the spectrum.

What's everybody use for the
fishing you do ?

[Casull]

I actually have, and use, about all of them.  Spinning, baitcasting, spincasting, a couple of fly rods, and I've even used a canepole or two.  Probably use spinning tackle more than anything else.

[darkgael]

Equipment depends on the fish, the water, the location.
Just home from Alaska. Fishing for salmon on the kenai river. I had a nine foot 8/9 weight fly rod with a large arbor reel loaded with 40 lb mono. There line attached to a swivel and that to a four ft leader with a #4 hook and a one ounce sinker.
At home in PA fishing for rainbows in Harveys Creek, I used a six foot three weight Loomis fly rod, a #3 Hardy Marquis reel with WF line, a 10lb leader, 4x tippet and a Gold ribbed Hares ear. In NY on the Hudson looking for Stripers, I have a ten foot Penn rod, an Avet 5.3 conventional reel with 20 lb mon. With three ounces of bait, a three ounce sinker we are good to go.

[teamnelson]

Man, I've switched tackle up alot more this year than ever. Most of the time set up like Pete described, 9wt fly rod with a large arbor, mono, long leader and a GK Octopus 1 hook ... but I like a 1oz slinky better. Fewer snags. I did start off with a spin cast "salmon rig" but a couple hours flossing with that and your shoulder is beat. Next up is a short halibut rod with a big trolling reel, a rope slider at the end with two circle hooks full of herring, octopus or salmon bellies, a dash of but juice, and 3-4# of weight. After that switch out to a lighter rod with a trolling reel and counter, and a bullet jig for black bass/rockfish. Silvers (coho) are coming so will be switching back to the spincast with a cheater single hook lure ... no pink lures; pinks like pink lures, and nobody likes to eat pinks around here, except the dogs.

[darkgael]

TN: where are you catching the halibut?

Pete

[teamnelson]

TN: where are you catching the halibut?

Pete

Kachemak Bay, launching out of Homer. Buddy has a boat and loves to fish only slightly less than he loves getting others out to fish.

[darkgael]

My son and I made the drive down to Homer a few years ago. We had a charter but it was blowing a gale and the Captain was not going to go out. It was serious wind and I did not mind his decision.

[Ranger99]

After visiting with different people, I
guess I've been kinda out of touch
with the trends of fishing and tackle
and such
Looks to me like spinning tackle is
the mainstream thing, even with the
bass pro types.  I've been using some
spinning tackle for years, mainly for
ultralight and on my crappie jigging
pole ( the one built as a rod with guides
and such- not my telescopic " cane " poles)
and the one surfcasting spin rig I have.
My fishing buddy and his family have
been using baitcasting/bass type tackle
for redfish and sand trout and catfishing
for years and years.
Way back when,  if you were the spinning
fishing elite, you used a Mitchell 300

[O-mega]

When I was young, in CO, just used a rod, a Zebco, and whatever line I could get at K-Mart along with a pack of #7 hooks, Eagle Claw because the factory was there in Denver.  Used crawlers, corn, and fish eggs as bait depending on how I was fishing, bottom or stream.

After a few years in the military, I returned with a tacklebox full of gear, my wife's grandpa laughed at all the gear I took along on a trip to a WY lake, still managed to bring in a few nonetheless.  But never heard the end of that one, until he passed, though the wife reminds me now and then.

[teamnelson]

My son and I made the drive down to Homer a few years ago. We had a charter but it was blowing a gale and the Captain was not going to go out. It was serious wind and I did not mind his decision.

indeed, good call! If you come back up let me know ahead of time and I might be able to get a halibut trip together.

[Mule 11]

I use dynamite. Everything is catchable after that...

[teamnelson]

I use dynamite. Everything is catchable after that...

1/4 stick with a 2’ wp fuse attached to a 4# lead weight really gets it down to those big fish.

[Mule 11]

When I was young, in CO, just used a rod, a Zebco, and whatever line I could get at K-Mart along with a pack of #7 hooks, Eagle Claw because the factory was there in Denver.  Used crawlers, corn, and fish eggs as bait depending on how I was fishing, bottom or stream.

After a few years in the military, I returned with a tacklebox full of gear, my wife's grandpa laughed at all the gear I took along on a trip to a WY lake, still managed to bring in a few nonetheless.  But never heard the end of that one, until he passed, though the wife reminds me know and then.

I will never forget the ribbing I took from my grandfather and James. You catch no fish, you get no dinner. I brought in the only bass that day and not sure of the count. When we docked and walked to the house I told the girls/women that they were to get no dinner as they had caught no fish. The girls were grinning and my grandfather and cohort were hanging their heads low. I really miss them...

[Lloyd Smale]

fly fishing was my thing. Almost an obsession for many years. Anymore its to tough for me to get into the places i fished . Just to old to crawl through the woods. So today its either fishing trout, salmon and whitefish on lake superior which doesnt happen often now that i sold my big whaler or small lake fishing for pike and perch. Still have some fly rods but mostly big bait cast and spinning set ups but i still have 3 old zebco 33s set up and a year doesnt go by that i dont use them. Matter of fact they about live in my little 14 foot whaler. Was digging though old fishing tackle boxes the other day and found a Mitchel 300 spinning real. I bought it when i was a kid. It was THE real to have back then. Looks like comparing a model T to my challenger sitting next to my other spinning reals. but im going to buy a pole for it this week and bring back some memories.

[Ranger99]

. . .  but i still have 3 old zebco 33s set up and a year doesnt go by that i dont use them. . . . .

Nothing wrong with them.
I have 3 myself that get regular use
on some of the small lakes I've been
fishing for the smaller catfish.
I guess they last indefinitely if they're
kept properly cleaned and lubed.
Too many people never maintain them
and they get dry inside and wear
out quickly and fall apart.

[Lloyd Smale]

I dont remember when the other two were bought but one was bought in 1968 and still works like new. Id like to know how many fish were caught with that rod and reel. back then they were about considered a Cadillac of reels. I remember how proud i was when dad bought it for me to replace my zebco 202. It was like he was saying i was grown up enough to have a REAL reel. Still have an old mitchel 300 that was bought a year or two later. Had it out about a month ago. Shook my head at the fact that it was considered a high quality spinning reel back then. Pretty crude by todays standards but then 55 years old and it to works just like the day i bought it. Ive got some old fly rods and reals too. Nothing like a bamboo fly rod to bring back a bit of  nostalgia
 

. . .  but i still have 3 old zebco 33s set up and a year doesnt go by that i dont use them. . . . .

Nothing wrong with them.
I have 3 myself that get regular use
on some of the small lakes I've been
fishing for the smaller catfish.
I guess they last indefinitely if they're
kept properly cleaned and lubed.
Too many people never maintain them
and they get dry inside and wear
out quickly and fall apart.

[Ranger99]

Woops- thought I'd lost my oldest
Zeb 33 in the little lake
Not much of any action today, and
finally had a good twitch and when  I
made one of those superman
hooksets, the rod seat part of the old
 rod gave way and the 33 went BLOOP !
down in the water. The fish even got off.
Luckily, I always tie off to the spool on
every reel JIC something like that happens,
or if a good fish strips the spool bare.
No damage to the reel. I thought at first
I'd broken the foot of the reel.
I'm going to miss the ancient rod.
It was an old floppy fiberglass 1970's
looking outfit that you could probably
bend double and you wouldn't break it.
I don't even know what kind it was.
Any lettering wore off years back.
Plenty of backbone for any fish
( or turtle) that's ever pulled on it.
I lubed the reel and put it on an old
Berkley rod I had in the corner, but
it's got the action of a mop handle.
Ok for tossing a big plug or a
big jig and worm all day in the
weed beds, but I'll miss ol' whippy