Downeaster2010 Posted April 29, 2013 Posted April 29, 2013 Although my tag on here is a minnow, I am anything but, when it comes to bass fishing. I caught the bug early on in 1972, when a friend of Jimmy Houston returned to Maine after going to Oklahoma University with him. He knew all about spinnerbaits and rubber worms, of which no one in Maine had a clue at that time. Most of us purchased 8 inch Mann's worms at the time, as there were huge bass all over Maine that had not been fished. It was easy to go out and catch 25 five pounders a day, with an occasional 8-10 lbs largemouth. Those were great bass fishing days in Maine. I purchased a Glastron bass boat, and joined a club. It turned out with 30 members I had the only original bass boat, and not a put together. I served as club President in 1981-82. I left the club scene to fish the East coast circuit for a few years. in 1995 I left bass fishing to chase Bluefins like you see on Wicked Tuna. I did the same thing, and found out that you put even more money into that than bass fishing. Now I have come full circle, back to pouring my on jigs, and now pouring my own rubber. I suspect I will join a local bass club in June for the comraderie with fellow anglers. I turned 70 last fall, but am still young at heart, and a go getter when it comes to hunting and fishing. Luckily I had a good work career, and retired in 2004, to hunt and fish full time. I moved to an area of Maine where there are many lakes and ponds. The lakes here are all clear water, with some that have a visibility down to almost 20 ft. The water looks like stuff you bottle. So the next 10 years of so, I hope to be chasing the bass again. There are a lot of bass boats and bass fishermen here now, but most have confidence in just a few chosen lures. I find I have strong confidence in 15-20 different setups. We will see how I stand up to the younger guys this summer. Quote
Hanover_Yakker Posted April 29, 2013 Posted April 29, 2013 Awesome - welcome aboard. Isn't amazing how our favorite hobbies and recreational activities end up costing more and more? Quote
Downeaster2010 Posted April 29, 2013 Author Posted April 29, 2013 Yes it is, I had to step back to bass fishing, as everything for bluefin was way more. I was lucky because I used to build rods as a hobby, so built 3 130lb class bent butt tuna rods, that cost me about 300 each, then 3 Penn Senator II 130Lb class that cost over 1000 ea. Fill them with line at 100 per pop. Trolling squids rigs that had 15 seventeen inch squids at 10 each on a trolling bar just to get 1 rod fishing. It adds up fast. I had a habit of making all my own rigs so that saved me some, but gas in and out to the fishing grounds and in a short while you are broke. The squid rigs were for when the tuna were not hitting bait, so you had to troll, oh and then trolling you needed outriggers that went up 18 foot. Then on top of that the US govt said you needed liferafts, epirb, survival suits, nav gear, whew. I would have been way ahead if I just stayed with bass. I kept the tuna boat for 13 years, and when I sold it I was able to take the money and pay cash for a new bass boat dressed completely out. Now I am pouring lead, and plastic. When I quit before I was doing the lead jigs, but not the plastic. I guess it is cheap compared to the Tuna. Catching a bass is a great feeling, but when you hookup with a tuna its a heart attack. The thing I don't lack is experience and I think I will surprise a lot of the younger fishermen. Quote
Super User Darren. Posted April 29, 2013 Super User Posted April 29, 2013 Welcome aboard! I'd love to catch a tuna. Someday I will, though I prefer to stay within site of land, LOL. Quote
Super User Sam Posted April 29, 2013 Super User Posted April 29, 2013 Welcome. The more "mature" guys we have the better. Quote
BassResource.com Administrator Glenn Posted April 30, 2013 BassResource.com Administrator Posted April 30, 2013 Welcome Home! Quote
Super User Tuckahoe Joe Posted April 30, 2013 Super User Posted April 30, 2013 Hello and welcome! Quote
Mainebass1984 Posted April 30, 2013 Posted April 30, 2013 Welcom aboard ! Glad to see another Maine bass fisherman onboard. Quote
tbcop Posted May 2, 2013 Posted May 2, 2013 A Big Welcome...All the way from Wise, VA...Stay Safe and Happy Fishing... Tony Quote
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