Once Upon A Googan!

[wheresmy50]

A few good ones from my first few dozen striper trips:
- Backlashing a Shimano baitrunner because I set the hook without disengaging the baitrunner. As far as I know, I'm the only person to ever backlash a spinning reel.
- Using a lantern, then wondering why it took the fish 10 minutes to start biting again when I walked in front of it.
- Using 17lb test in the boulders with eels. Leaving with about 30 yards of line left on the reel and no hooks.
- Owning no waders or wading shoes. Freezing in mesh shorts and a tee shirt, and sliding on the Jamestown rocks in sneakers.
- Going kayaking in a maze of islands with only a compass at night. Couldn't find my launching point when the pea soup rolled in.
- Buying 4 of a plug that I read about on the internet, then realizing they suck.
- Wading out on Penfield Reef on an incoming tide and forgetting my flashlight (at dusk). Getting back was a blast in water up to my chest with my surf bag and rod held above my head because the current was treating the bag as a drift sock.
- Trying to fish the east wall with no gaff.

[The Dad Fisherman]

Originally Posted by wheresmy50

- Backlashing a Shimano baitrunner because I set the hook without disengaging the baitrunner. As far as I know, I'm the only person to ever backlash a spinning reel.

I've done the exact same thing....so.....No you aren't the only person to backlash a spinning reel

[Blitzseeker]

I've done more idiotic things than I can count, many more recently than I'd like to admit. The bottom line is that sometimes I just get real excited about the fishing and forget basic things. In any significant blitz I'm virtually guaranteed to do something stupid. For example, a few years back I was in a classic bluefish blitz and hauled in an absolute alligator...a big thick fish that was probably around 35 inches. The hook was just barely in his mouth, and I had dropped my pliers a few paces away unhooking the previous fish. Eager to get the plug back in the fray, I figured I'd just quick unhook him by hand. Happy to show any of you the nice permanent scar on my thumb from that decision.

Whenever I see someone who is clueless, I always try to remember that I was lucky enough to learn the ropes from guys who had been doing it for 30 years. If asked, I always try to help. But I've learned that volunteering information without being asked usually meets with an "f you" look back rather than any thanks.

[Biteme]

George great story. Sometimes I think we forget what it's all about.

[partsjay]

I'm the type of guy who would rather take five minutes to show somebody what I know, than spend a tide making them feel like crap, life is too short. People have helped me is the past, a knot here, a techniqe here, these people will always stick out in my mind as great people.

One of my best friends is someone who was just getting into the game, I taugh him what I know, learned a lot in the process, and ended up with an awesome fishing buddy. I guess that puts me out of the "cool crowd" huh? just like high school

I wish there were more people who thought like that.....I find the internet to be alot like High School.....if your in the crowd...your in...if not.....your just wasting time......some people can post that they just farted....and they get 400 responses about how awesome they or that was.....other guys have a legit question....and get 2 responses out of 500 looks.....kinda sad when you think about it....but it will never change.....it all about clicks.....funny....you rarely see people offering to fish with new guys.....or show them a trick or two...it's always the same answer...." Do your homework.....pay your dues....put in your time..." You know, I find it hard to believe that ALL these great fisherman on this site learned everything they know on there own.....but they are unwilling to show other newcombers some tricks of the trade.....afraid of giving up that Perfect spot that they have apparently found out about all by themselves.....if I was a newcomber trying to find out about this sport.....and the internet was the place I looked.....not sure I would have fallen in love with the sport the way I did.....it doesn't seem like a very friendly sport to a newcomber if you just take a step back and think about it.

So.......Who wants to fish?

[planter]

Many times the Googan is really the guy who thinks he knows what a Googan is but in reality is a Googan himself.

I see lot's of guys carrying just the right Pole/Rod/Stick matched with a perfect reel and all the right stuff but will be Googans forever. There are know nothing Googans and Googans who know a ton. Internet hero or a Googan?? It just depends on the day.....

[missing link]

All us guy's put our pants on one leg at a time but I bet half of ya still squat to pee
God Bless all you Great fisherman you all started out like the other guy ya you put your time in , what ya want a MEDAL look in the mirror your the same POS as me no better and your gonna end up the same place as me . IN A F'N HOLE covered with dirt with worms eating youg fish loving bones
LINK SR