What's it all about

[MikeTLive]

Originally Posted by JohnR

...there needs to a few more River Runs Though It movies...

I can see it now.

"The Stripers Run through it... "
A love story about the fishermen of the East coast...

[JohnnySaxatilis]

Besides moose I feel like one of the youngest aglers around this board.
In my opinion the biggest effect the internet has on fishing is creating the illusion its easy. And everyone here knows it sure as hell is NOT easy. Having a good teacher/mentor (Like moose has), or making friends with skilled anglers and learning from them is absolutely esssential to honing your skills in this sport. You can read all the posts you want, but until you're out there actually doing it, all that knowledge means nothing.

All people see in this "instant post to the internet from your phone era" is your fish. They dont see the bad knee from the fall last season, they dont see the splits in your knuckles, or the bruise on your arm, the bloody anguish of fouling up your line, the countless mornings waking up in the dark. People are being fed a false reality when it comes to fishing. Thats where the retards are born, they see it and go, "well sh!t I can do that!" They have no concept of the work thats put in to accomplish catching that fish.

I feel like I've been lucky getting to know some of the people out in the surf and on this board (Cuz this is the only board I post on) because they've essentially taught me everything I know about striper fishing. My dad layed down the foundation surfcasting early in life for blues but his enthusiasm has faded in his older years when mine started to strengthen. So I guess I just wanna take this opprotunity to say thanks to all that have taught me something along the way. All you geezers out there that have shared a laugh and a lure with me. Its much appreciated. And I have a lot more to learn so keep it coming you gummers!!!!

[Jackbass]

Originally Posted by JohnnySaxatilis

Besides moose I feel like one of the youngest aglers around this board.
In my opinion the biggest effect the internet has on fishing is creating the illusion its easy. And everyone here knows it sure as hell is NOT easy. Having a good teacher/mentor (Like moose has), or making friends with skilled anglers and learning from them is absolutely esssential to honing your skills in this sport. You can read all the posts you want, but until you're out there actually doing it, all that knowledge means nothing.

All people see in this "instant post to the internet from your phone era" is your fish. They dont see the bad knee from the fall last season, they dont see the splits in your knuckles, or the bruise on your arm, the bloody anguish of fouling up your line, the countless mornings waking up in the dark. People are being fed a false reality when it comes to fishing. Thats where the retards are born, they see it and go, "well sh!t I can do that!" They have no concept of the work thats put in to accomplish catching that fish.

I feel like I've been lucky getting to know some of the people out in the surf and on this board (Cuz this is the only board I post on) because they've essentially taught me everything I know about striper fishing. My dad layed down the foundation surfcasting early in life for blues but his enthusiasm has faded in his older years when mine started to strengthen. So I guess I just wanna take this opprotunity to say thanks to all that have taught me something along the way. All you geezers out there that have shared a laugh and a lure with me. Its much appreciated. And I have a lot more to learn so keep it coming you gummers!!!!

Great post Johnny that reminded me to put my teeth in! Though I learn more from you in spots than you from me
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[piemma]

Writing the stories that Toby has been publishing has been my way of giving back to the younger guys. I told Toby that I felt it was necessary to pass on some of the stuff from the past.

I also have had the great privilege of teaching 4 nephews how to striper fish. I can't show them how to Fluke or 'Tog because I suck at them but I do know how to catch fish with 7 stripes. It had been a real treat to give them my custom plugs and teasers and watch as they experience the wonder of catching Stripers.

I knew Bob Pond. Not well but I did have the privilege of fishing with him in the late 80s a few times at the White Church in Barrington.

I have an article that I sent Toby called "Fishing with Legends" and it's about a night on "The Back" with the likes of George Calzone, Lanny Grassini, Tom Murphy, Tony Bucci, Tony C, Steve Mills, #^&#^&#^&#^&y Counoyer and a few other old timers from NY.

[stinkyink]

Originally Posted by JohnnySaxatilis

Besides moose I feel like one of the youngest aglers around this board.

It's quite a shame that I don't see many more fisherman my age (late 20's) out there hitting the surf. I can remember growing up as a kid spending most of time with my friends fishing ponds, rivers and streams for bass, pickerel, trout etc. We couldn't wait to get out of school, go buy some shiners or plastic worms, and get a line wet. It was basically like a ritual every other day seeing each other in school and being like dude did you save your lunch money only to have scrounged enough to go and buy some bait, hooks or whatever tackle we needed to catch something. I used to starve myself some days thinking chit at least ill be able to go fishing. As the years passed my friends grew out of it but I kept searching for that trophy to put on my wall. It wasn't until a couple of years ago I discovered surfcasting. At this point I was totally unaware on how to catch a striper i used to see guys chunking all the time so i thought that was the way to do it. So one day a gentleman saw me fishing and asked what i was fishing for. I told him stripers. We chatted for a bit then he told me to meet him at his truck in the parking lot because he had something for me. I wasn't having any luck so i packed it up and headed to the lot. To make a long story short he gave me 2 pencils, a tin and 2 spooks. Told me that i should go buy some gear like korks, waders, rod and reel and hit the rocky shoreline during the early morning and late afternoon. So I took his advice. It didnt take long to catch one. After that I was hooked. All and all I guess what im tryin to say is that It's a shame alot of my friends that i used to fish with all the time lost interest and im still out there thinking about the next upcoming season and how im goin to plan each of my outings around wind,tide,location, and moon phases. They still to this day say hey lets go out this weekend and have some beers. Don't get me wrong i like to go out and have a good time but to me having a good time in my book is grabbing all my gear and my plugs and hittin one of my favorite spots for a couple hours. I know fishing is going to be a lifelong addiction for me and i know some people on this board can abide to that.I have come a far way but the journey continues. I may still be a youngster but the knowledge ive learned from this site and just being out there in the surf over the years has made me a better person and fisherman as well. so thank you s-b and the few that i fish with.Oh and Ron i didn't forget about you thanks for the pencil you gave me that was a generous gesture to throw me a plug. She was put to good use.

[RIsurffishing]

Everyone in this post, thank you very much for sharing all of theses. Going to make sure my kids read this tonight. Passing it on.

[bart]

Originally Posted by stinkyink

It's quite a shame that I don't see many more fisherman my age (late 20's) out there hitting the surf.

I'm in my late 20s and feel the same way. I got started just like you more or less. When I was real young, maybe 10 or so, my buddy's father took us fishing for whatever with nightcrawlers. I don't remember what we caught but I told my father after I wanted to fish and he did his best to get me out there despite him knowing nothing about fishing. We did the freshwater thing for a while and then somehow I got the itch to try the salt. We were vacationing on the Vineyard and my father bought me a 9ft Ugly Stick paired with a 704. We went down to the beach at Lobsterville and right before dark a school of small bass crashed the beach. We took turns landing schoolie after schoolie on the one plug we had, an Atom popper. I was HOOKED after that. We started chunking the canal soon after and I got a 27 lb fish down the east end when I was 13. When I beached the fish my father started yelling "Help! Help!" He had never seen a fish that big and didn't know what to do Again, I was HOOKED.

In high school I would do the canal and some RI fishing with my father, but my grandfather gave me his Old Town canoe and I really got into tossing rubber worms for LM. I fished EVERY day after school with one friend. So much that I never took my canoe off the roof of my jeep. I drove all around town with it on there, went to school like that, just so I could fish any time I had the chance. I think throwing rubber worms is what ultimately got me into plugging for stripers.

My friends all went off to school and stopped fishing. I went to school and dropped out and became obsessed with fishing the RI surf. If anyone remembers me back then I was a complete madman(much more so than now which is scary). I would go down to SoCo and sleep in my truck for days and fish until I couldn't function. I took "putting in your time" to the extreme. I didn't fish smart and my biggest fish during that stretch was only 30lbs, but again, I was HOOKED.

None of my friends from HS fish anymore and I miss that, but by coming to this site I have been fortunate to meet some great guys, who became good friends, and who just happen to be GREAT fishermen as well. I don't know why they put up with me, but I will be forever grateful. For a few years I felt completely burnt out, but this year the fire came back. Fishing is my favorite thing is in this world besides my family and it is the one thing that truly makes me feel alive and "human." I already can't wait for next season. Going to be fun putting my new VS to the test. Tight lines...