what happened to the "art" of striped bass fishing??

[bobber]

seems like fun is gone out of fishing for bass for me- maybe I've just burned out from a lack of success. maybe I've been doing this for too long and need a new hobby (er whatever ya call this)

I miss seeing the fish- grabbing a bass' s jaw on a dark and taking a good look at the green-purple-bluish colors that shine in my headlamp.


maybe I need another beer

[piemma]

Originally Posted by bobber

seems like fun is gone out of fishing for bass for me- maybe I've just burned out from a lack of success. maybe I've been doing this for too long and need a new hobby (er whatever ya call this)

I miss seeing the fish- grabbing a bass' s jaw on a dark and taking a good look at the green-purple-bluish colors that shine in my headlamp.


maybe I need another beer

...or maybe you should start golfing. Fishing is what you make of it. I have fished all my life and I'm 66. I STILL get excited when I'm going out.

[Tagger]

For the most part I haven't changed .. Still want them on top and on plugs . I know this is wrong if you are targeting really large fish. Live bait rules,, but it's what I like .. That being said ,, when fishing the canal I always carry a snag hook ..

[fishrick]

I just took this up 4 years ago as I moved to CT. I have invested a lot of time and money. I do enjoy success, but I also enjoy the time spent in solitude, in watching others have success, and in catching, but like most of my passions, its the journey, not the catch. They are a great and handsome fish, but I am not bitter if I did not catch. I prefer to fish the surf, over the boat, but have done both. I have made many friends that share the same values in pursing this fine fish. The take of a fish on the surface we all live for.

[Rockfish9]

Evolution is the short answer....the sport has evolved due to factors both in and out of our control...

for us older folks... Striped bass fishing was something that provided a pinnacle of enjoyment....at times frustrating other times rewarding... we put in long hours fishing and twice as many hours preparing... "scheming" and thinking about the next trip to the brine... when I began fishing, every fish over 16" was retained,boxed,iced and sold...the "old timers" rarely talked to the new guy's on the water... everyone fished from a 16' tin boat or the surf... there was no internet or chat rooms.. the chat room was the bench alongside the dock where the guy's gathered waiting for the sun to go down... one of my fondest memories was the evening I was invited to join them for a cup of coffee before "we" headed out...in my mind.. they had noticed my dedication and felt I now actually had something to contribute to the conversation.... the hard work mentality and "hands on" study has become a thing of the past...
it's a lot easier to look up fishing reports than it is to loose sleep ( and respect in the household) and beat yourself bloody and bruised finding where the fish are... we have done it to ourselves to some degree....as we age, we have less tolerance than we used to for " stupidity".. I myself have had several shouting matches with people for driving over fish ( and my lines) .. but sadly.. they just don't know any better.. it's easier to find the guy hooked up and mug him... after the latest incident when a boat actually rammed mine because I called him a dumb---, I confided in a friend that it just wasn't fun anymore ( sound familure)...all that being said... getting older just takes a toll on your body.. we remember the "good old days" and tend to remember the "good" more than the "bad"... striped bass are a cyclical fish... they always have been.... this spring was very slow around the Merrimack.. many things attributed to it... some of it is just buzzards luck...... no doubt there are fewer fish... and I have put forth less of an effort because I'd have to travel farther from the dock and work a little harder.. sometimes the wind and tide don't meet our expectations and we get frustrated.... 9 days ago, I hit an old haunt...the only ones there were a hand full of surf rats, willing to walk a long way to enjoy solitude, we fished the same water , shared theories on why so many fish congregated in that one spot and no where else as I turned my boat to deeper water so as not to disturb them.. we shared a respect for surf and boat and each other.. the way it SHOULD be ... together we enjoyed( 9 in a row) some of the best fishing in the last several years... just about every cast produced a fish 20 lb or better... 30 and 40 lbs were numerous...the best fish from the lot has been a 49 -14 ( weighed on a hand held digital before release).. my hands are hamburger .. my eyes slits my ..shoulder is killing me.. only got 6 fish last night, the bio mass has moved on.. but man was that FUN!

[massbassman]

Originally Posted by Rockfish9

Evolution is the short answer....the sport has evolved due to factors both in and out of our control...

for us older folks... Striped bass fishing was something that provided a pinnacle of enjoyment....at times frustrating other times rewarding... we put in long hours fishing and twice as many hours preparing... "scheming" and thinking about the next trip to the brine... when I began fishing, every fish over 16" was retained,boxed,iced and sold...the "old timers" rarely talked to the new guy's on the water... everyone fished from a 16' tin boat or the surf... there was no internet or chat rooms.. the chat room was the bench alongside the dock where the guy's gathered waiting for the sun to go down... one of my fondest memories was the evening I was invited to join them for a cup of coffee before "we" headed out...in my mind.. they had noticed my dedication and felt I now actually had something to contribute to the conversation.... the hard work mentality and "hands on" study has become a thing of the past...
it's a lot easier to look up fishing reports than it is to loose sleep ( and respect in the household) and beat yourself bloody and bruised finding where the fish are... we have done it to ourselves to some degree....as we age, we have less tolerance than we used to for " stupidity".. I myself have had several shouting matches with people for driving over fish ( and my lines) .. but sadly.. they just don't know any better.. it's easier to find the guy hooked up and mug him... after the latest incident when a boat actually rammed mine because I called him a dumb---, I confided in a friend that it just wasn't fun anymore ( sound familure)...all that being said... getting older just takes a toll on your body.. we remember the "good old days" and tend to remember the "good" more than the "bad"... striped bass are a cyclical fish... they always have been.... this spring was very slow around the Merrimack.. many things attributed to it... some of it is just buzzards luck...... no doubt there are fewer fish... and I have put forth less of an effort because I'd have to travel farther from the dock and work a little harder.. sometimes the wind and tide don't meet our expectations and we get frustrated.... 9 days ago, I hit an old haunt...the only ones there were a hand full of surf rats, willing to walk a long way to enjoy solitude, we fished the same water , shared theories on why so many fish congregated in that one spot and no where else as I turned my boat to deeper water so as not to disturb them.. we shared a respect for surf and boat and each other.. the way it SHOULD be ... together we enjoyed( 9 in a row) some of the best fishing in the last several years... just about every cast produced a fish 20 lb or better... 30 and 40 lbs were numerous...the best fish from the lot has been a 49 -14 ( weighed on a hand held digital before release).. my hands are hamburger .. my eyes slits my ..shoulder is killing me.. only got 6 fish last night, the bio mass has moved on.. but man was that FUN!

^ Well said!
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[BigFish]

Fishing for me is first and foremost about solitude.......its about the people you meet, the people you fish with, the friends you make along the way. Its about all the amazing things you see along the way......whales, deer, ospreys, eagles, the bait and fish putting on a show even when you can't hook up! The beautiful sunrise on any morning.......the fire red of a sunset on any evening......a gorgeous star filled night, a full moon. Getting caught in a thunderstorm. Just enjoying each and every moment that comes your way......whether you catch fish or not......and then there are the moments when the fishing is marvelous! Thats the bonus for me.....catching the fish!

For me (and those who know me know this) I just fish my own lures! Catching fish....any fish on my own hand made wooden lures that I sweated and toiled over for so many hours......thats the way I like to catch fish! Sure if I fished eels more or bought the "flavor of the month" lure I might be able to catch the "40" that I dream about......but that is not what its about for me.......success by my own hand.....that is where the art lies for me.

All that said......I have not fished the canal much this season at all....or even the salt for that matter. The crowds and the bickering and the bull#^&#^&#^&#^&......it ruins it for me. I would rather walk a mile past busting 50 pounders with 100 guys all slaying them left and right....to find my piece of what I am looking for.....my way......how I want it!

[chris L]

Originally Posted by BigFish

Fishing for me is first and foremost about solitude.......its about the people you meet, the people you fish with, the friends you make along the way. Its about all the amazing things you see along the way......whales, deer, ospreys, eagles, the bait and fish putting on a show even when you can't hook up! The beautiful sunrise on any morning.......the fire red of a sunset on any evening......a gorgeous star filled night, a full moon. Getting caught in a thunderstorm. Just enjoying each and every moment that comes your way......whether you catch fish or not......and then there are the moments when the fishing is marvelous! Thats the bonus for me.....catching the fish!

All that said...... The crowds and the bickering and the bull#^&#^&#^&#^&......it ruins it for me. I would rather walk a mile past busting 25 pounders with 100 guys all slaying them left and right....to find my piece of what I am looking for.....my way......how I want it!

I agree totally Larry . Except I dont think I could truely walk by 50#ers being caught . But that is my one guilty pleasure or maybe 2nd or 3rd .
LOL