Fishing with Old Timers

[Manly Studson]

I was invited by my neighbor, an old Marine with 3 Purple Hearts, to fish his brother’s small pond. When we got there, I could tell that he was competitive. The pond was loaded with bass, and I knew from the start that his gear was inadequate: whippy rods, an old tackle box with rusty lures, and too few lures. I caught much more bass than he did. I began to slowly suggest lures, and I offered him a stout pole. He didn’t accept any of it, but pressed on. He missed fish after fish with his whippy rod. At the end of the day he seemed grumpy. He said that his hooks were too small. I respect him, but I’m not sure how to fish with him without him having a bad time. Should I let him out-fish me next time? 

[Scott F]

You may have respect for the old Marine, but I doubt he'd have much respect for you if you intentionally did not do your best. Just fish. If he wants to compete with you, he'll have to step up his game. Out of respect, don't announce how many you've caught if you out fish him next time. If he can't deal with being out fished he won't ask you back. 

[Harold Scoggins]

30 minutes ago, Manly Studson said:

Should I let him out-fish me next time? 

Yeah. He's a Marine. As for myself, I'm retired Army and I'm not cutting him any slack. That goes for you too young buck.

[Manly Studson]

2 hours ago, Scott F said:

You may have respect for the old Marine, but I doubt he'd have much respect for you if you intentionally did not do your best. Just fish. If he wants to compete with you, he'll have to step up his game. Out of respect, don't announce how many you've caught if you out fish him next time. If he can't deal with being out fished he won't ask you back. 

 

2 hours ago, Harold Scoggins said:

Yeah. He's a Marine. As for myself, I'm retired Army and I'm not cutting him any slack. That goes for you too young buck.

Two good responses. So be respectful and fish on. Good advice. Given the shoddy gear he had, I was surprised at the number of strikes he got. He just couldn’t haul them in. 

[scaleface]

That sounds exactly like my Dad . Try to help and he rejects it and mumbles that " this is just not my day ."  Some people just want to be the hero and have the bait and equipment that works . Others  will say " Heck yeah , let me try   that. " 

[Mobasser]

I would just fish as you always do. He has his pride I'm sure. He won't respect anyone who isn't giving it 100%

[gim]

Some people just don’t take suggestions very well, even after they’ve gotten beat badly.

[Jleebesaw]

I would just keep doing your own thing. Maybe he will invite you again, maybe not. If he does, and you keep out fishing him, he will probably start to take some tips from you. He may think youre just lucky the first time or 2, but eventually he is going to see that he could learn a thing or 2 from you. Lots of guys dont like taking advice from younger people.

    Or maybe....

He takes his whippy rod and old school lures and hammers them. If so, would you be willing to follow his lead?

[slonezp]

2 hours ago, scaleface said:

That sounds exactly like my Dad . Try to help and he rejects it and mumbles that " this is just not my day ."  Some people just want to be the hero and have the bait and equipment that works . Others  will say " Heck yeah , let me try   that. " 

Try buying dad better gear and give it to him as birthday and Christmas gifts.

[Manly Studson]

1 hour ago, Jleebesaw said:

  Or maybe....

He takes his whippy rod and old school lures and hammers them. If so, would you be willing to follow his lead?

Yes, I would follow his lead. Everything I know about fishing comes from watching others, listening to others, or what I read somewhere.

[soflabasser]

6 hours ago, Manly Studson said:

When we got there, I could tell that he was competitive. The pond was loaded with bass, and I knew from the start that his gear was inadequate: whippy rods, an old tackle box with rusty lures, and too few lures. I caught much more bass than he did. I began to slowly suggest lures, and I offered him a stout pole. He didn’t accept any of it, but pressed on. He missed fish after fish with his whippy rod. At the end of the day he seemed grumpy. He said that his hooks were too small. I respect him, but I’m not sure how to fish with him without him having a bad time. Should I let him out-fish me next time? 

Sounds like he might be set in his old ways and might think too much of himself. You offered help and he did not take it which is the opposite of what he should of done. Fishing is a hobby that you can learn something from anybody and there is nobody that knows everything there is to know about fishing. Do not let him out fish you since it will give him false confidence which is a bad thing if you really want him to become a better fisherman. Besides I would hate if someone is going easy on me just to let me win, that is not a true win. Fish harder next time you guys go fishing and hopefully he will be humble enough to learn from you and not be so grumpy.

[lo n slo]

14 hours ago, gimruis said:

Some people just don’t take suggestions very well, even after they’ve gotten beat badly.

exactly, i’ve seen the same behavior from both young and old. 

 

“old timers”, smh

[WRB]

When we get old and set in our ways catching fish isn't as important as just getting out to fish. If you ever get the chance to fish with the older man agian simply show him what you use and how it's rigged. This is what the old man would do for you is the situation was reversed. Offer something that will catch bass on his tackle. It's not about a competition or catching more bass it's about sharing quality time.

Tom

[Manly Studson]

2 hours ago, WRB said:

It's not about a competition or catching more bass it's about sharing quality time.

I agree, but for him it was a competition. I or my son cuts his lawn, so I am not worried about ill will. Just fishing with him in those circumstances was awkward.

[frogflogger]

I'm an old fisherman and I learn constantly but like Larry Dahlberg (sp) has said - I first wanted to catch a fish - then I wanted to catch a lot of fish - then I wanted to catch big fish - now I want to catch fish on my terms.--i often fish with stuff for just the hell of it knowing full well I could catch more doing something else.

[LonnieP]

If he wants to be stubborn like that,I would just pay no attention to what he does and enjoy myself. 

[Krux5506]

Good luck teaching an old dog new tricks. 

 

 

You should just shame him for being a bad fisherman next time. Tell him to step his game up, to quit embarrassing himself, or just quit fishing altogether. 

 

 

Just kidding. Honestly, just do what you do and remain humble about it, as it sounds like you were. 

[Harold Scoggins]

On ‎5‎/‎29‎/‎2019 at 7:16 PM, slonezp said:

Try buying dad better gear and give it to him as birthday and Christmas gifts.

Now this is the best reply yet!

[NHBull]

He is setting you up......best not to take him up on a bet.?

 

Semper-Fi 

[redmeansdistortion]

Fishing with old timers is great.  If they aren't catching fish, they're telling some amazing stories.

[Glaucus]

Some people like their own things. I don't like to fish with other people's stuff. I like my own stuff. He might be the same. However my gear is good, adequate gear, so that might not entirely fit this situation.

I wish I knew old bass fishermen. All the old guys I know who fish use a bobber and a live worm with a spincast reel. Not my style at all.

It's funny too because in the remote pond I fish, I only ever see 2 other people there and they are old guys on opposite ends with their worms and bobbers and competing with each other. They get to cussing and it cracks me up. Every fish counts. Bluegill, crappie, bass, catfish, it doesn't matter, size doesn't matter. Who caught more matters. They're a lot of fun but we're in 2 different worlds when it comes to fishing.

[reb67]

1 hour ago, NHBull said:

He is setting you up......best not to take him up on a bet.?

 

Semper-Fi 

I agree you maybe getting set up especially if you talk about how well you do at fishing. If the $$$'s are on the line he could be that old guy at the pool hall who has been getting  beaten all night and when someone gets  the nerve to make that big bet and he unzips that $1,500.00 pool cue and takes your rent money. 

In all seriousness if you enjoy his company and enjoy fishing with him it doesn't matter who's fishing with what and who's catching the most fish just enjoy the company and let him know how much you appreciate the sacrifices that he has made.

 

This thread reminds me that Sam and I need to get together on the water this year?

[frogflogger]

Check out Ned Kehdes tackle - he catches 1000's of bass each year on old simple rods and reels.

[Armtx77]

My dad has a nasty habit of keeping track of just about everything. We fished this little man made lake in Iowa named Hawthorne.

He talked about how he was catching 100 fish everytime he went. I was calling BS and we went a few months later. 

He had a clicker, like the kind you would have for taking a head count at the state fair. No wonder no one wants to fish with him.

To his credit, it was the single best day of fishing I have ever had. We threw watermelon Senko's and I know I personally caught 133 fish and dad was not far behind. Every fish was about 14" and hit that Senko like it had not eaten in a month. If you wanted to teach someone how to fish a TRig, that was the day.

[Rip_lipz]

Went fishing with a friend on their family vacation because one of their boats broke down so I took mine up to the lake. I was fishing with my buddy's dad and he complained the entire time. It was either to weedy not enough weeds to windy not enough wind. He refused to let me graph new areas and refused any of my ideas to switch things up. I caught a limit and he caught zero. By the end of the day he was so grumpy that he no longer wanted to fish.