Technology

[WRB]

I will use the top 25 big bass as a reference regarding high end high tech rods and reels.

Most bass anglers believe highend high tech rods weighing under 4 oz and reels weighing under 6 oz is mandatory to have state of the art bass rods and reels. Not 1 of the biggest documented bass ever caught with the angler using a reel under 8 oz or rod under 5 oz. All these bass were caught over 10 to 30+ years ago when today's state of art rods and reels you can't sell today.

Example the reel I caught my PB bass 19.3 lbs was Daiwa TD -X HiA105 listed for $65. The rod was a Fenwick Tecna AV I sold for $50 in a bundled deal of 12 Rods. Oringinal Techna AV is Arimide Nano resign rod made in America and no rod today is superior, $300 in 1990.

I offered the TD -X to a member who replied he doesn't like the style. This reel can easily cast 50 yards with 3/8 oz lures and the style is the issue!

Tom

PS, reel sold, another member got a good reel. 

[jimmyjoe]

   I understand. One of my neighbors works at a car dealership. He got an absolutely wonderful deal on an SUV for his wife. She refused it because she didn't like the way the taillights looked.      jj

[waymont]

Dude, if you said that on another forum with the initials TT, you would be berated into the ground.

I think you will be ok here though.

[WRB]

34 minutes ago, waymont said:

Dude, if you said that on another forum with the initials TT, you would be berated into the ground.

I think you will be ok here though.

state of the art is always changing, not always for the better. Do I care? No!

Tom

[jbsoonerfan]

I must have missed the post that said you had to have high tech rods and reels to catch giant bass. I would guess the location and lack of fishing pressure has more to do with it than any rod or reel. You know those lakes where trout are stocked with the specific goal in mind of growing giant bass and closing the lakes at certain times to make sure those fish reach those giant sizes.

 

But I guess that wasn't really the point of the thread.

 

I'm sure I will be told I am wrong though.

 

I do know that 20 of the top 25 were caught in California though, so telling me anything different will be a stretch.

[WRB]

Our trophy bass lakes are up under 2,000 acres with over 100 bass boats every day on the water 365 days a year. The vast majority of bass over 17 lbs are caught using live bait. My Top 5 were caught using hair jigs with/pork rind trailers, not live bait.

The purpose of my thread was to point out that yesterday's state of the art isn't that dated, the primary factor in catching a bass of a life time, they still work, is the angler skills using them. 

Anytime you or anyone wants to try your skills, our lakes are still open.

Off topic, I listed over 300 pork rind trailers for sale on the Flea Market forum that I use to catch those bass without 1 inquiry. They are sold now to locals who know the value.

Tom

 

[jbsoonerfan]

9 minutes ago, WRB said:

Our trophy bass lakes are up under 2,000 acres with over 100 bass boats every day on the water 365 days a year. The vast majority of bass over 17 lbs are caught using live bait. My Top 5 were caught using hair jigs with/pork rind trailers, not live bait.

The purpose of my thread was to point out that yesterday's state of the art isn't that dated, the primary factor in catching a bass of a life time, they still work, is the angler skills using them. 

Anytime you or anyone wants to try your skills, our lakes are still open.

Tom

 

And anytime you want to try to catch all your giant bass in any other lake in the country outside of California, they are all open. Its all about the skill after all.

[Tywithay]

Unfortunately, the fish aren't always cooperative. In those instances, I get a lot more enjoyment out of my equipment than I would if I didn't catch anything using lesser gear. It has little to do with technology and more to do with the personal satisfaction I get from using a premium product. Sirloin and ribeye are both steaks, but there's a reason one costs double.

[jimmyjoe]

6 hours ago, Tywithay said:

Unfortunately, the fish aren't always cooperative. In those instances, I get a lot more enjoyment out of my equipment than I would if I didn't catch anything using lesser gear. It has little to do with technology and more to do with the personal satisfaction I get from using a premium product. Sirloin and ribeye are both steaks, but there's a reason one costs double.

 

   Maybe I took it wrong, but I thought that Tom's point was that true worth and value (in this case the function of technology) shouldn't be rejected on the basis of fashion. Fashion is ephemeral. Function is not.

   But like I said ..... maybe I took it wrong.   ?        jj

[roadwarrior]

Plenty of options, there is no need to compromise function or fashion.

[Logan S]

The world record largemouth (Kurita's fish) was caught on a Deps Sidewinder rod with a Shimano Antares DC7 and 25lb Toaray flourocarbon.  Probably close to $1000 retail value at the time.

 

The world record spotted bass caught recently by Cody Meyer was on a high end Daiwa rod with a Daiwa Exist spinning reel and he located the bass on his electronics and was able to drop right on it to catch it.  

 

in another 10 to 30 years this gear will be considered outdated too...Time goes on and equipment evolves.  

[jbsoonerfan]

6 minutes ago, Logan S said:

The world record largemouth (Kurita's fish) was caught on a Deps Sidewinder rod with a Shimano Antares DC7 and 25lb Toaray flourocarbon.  Probably close to $1000 retail value at the time.

 

The world record spotted bass caught recently by Cody Meyer was on a high end Daiwa rod with a Daiwa Exist spinning reel and he located the bass on his electronics and was able to drop right on it to catch it.  

 

in another 10 to 30 years this gear will be considered outdated too...Time goes on and equipment evolves.  

He didn't mean those fish LOL

 

Looking back, there hasn't been but 5 fish on the top 25 list from California caught in the last 17 years or so, the others were caught about 30 years ago.

[Teal]

The point of the post was that guys are focusing on top end gear with new tech and that alot of the big bass we caught on old school gear.   

 

As fisherman, and I mean me specifically, we need less focus on top end gear and more focus on finding fish.

[RichF]

I don't think the majority of anglers believe it's mandatory to have the best of the best gear in order to catch big bass.  They just want to use nice stuff because it's fun to use nice stuff.  I enjoy a sub12oz combo that I can cast, skip, pitch, flip, flop, flap with both hands, any which way, all day, every day and not get worn out. 

[king fisher]

The fishermen catches the fish not the gear.  I know kids that fish every day with line wrapped around a can, throwing lures made from tire weights, and tooth brush handles.  They can out fish almost any one, with any gear on their home waters. I know a guy that can take half of any fly rod and cast further than most fly anglers can with the most expensive rod made. He can even cast a fly line with just his hands as far as many can with a rod.

      Top of the line equipment is for the anglers enjoyment, not his ability to catch fish. Today's top of the line gear will be considered junk to some people 10 years from now.  Of course it will still catch fish, and bring enjoyment to the angler that has grown to like the gear he has.  I only hope I get to fish so much I completely wear the gear I have out and have to replace it because it doesn't work.  Not because it is out dated.

     

     

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Technological evolution, like price points can reach a point of diminishing returns. Lots of times equipment choice is more about the angler experience than actual effectiveness. Which is fine if realized. 

[greentrout]

There was a bass fisherman from Georgia who caught over 1000 bass 10 pounds plus ... he used Shakespeare ugly stiks... source: Bass Resource ...

 

I've only caught one bass a little over 8 lbs ...  a few over 6 and  7 lbs ... and plenty of the rest ... my equipment is not the most expensive but it's not junk either ...

 

fish mostly state public waters and on occasion some private property ... all of my biggest bass came out of stocked private waters I have permission to fish on occasion ...

 

no doubt in my mind fishing pressure on state, county and city waters open to the public is much tougher ... and expensive equipment doesn't give you much of an advantage ...

 

good fishing ...

 

 

[waymont]

2 hours ago, BaitFinesse said:

This couldn't be more inaccurate.  That place loves older Daiwa and Shimano reels.  If anywhere would approve of the old TD-X it would be there.  If I wanted to find a tuned up excellent and well cared for example of a TD-X that is where I would go to find one.  They worship the older pre TWS Daiwa platforms like TD-Z, TD Zillion, Alphas/Pixy.  Shimano too with the made in Japan reels.  That is the place to find the most criticism of the newer Daiwa and Shimano offerings and to find older platforms put on pedestals.  They're not wrong though. 

I'm talking about the general sentiment of his post, not the specific gear. I'm not familiar with older Daiwa stuff, I just get turned off by the vibe over there.

[Teal]

Y'all are getting side tracked away from the OPs intention for the post.   

 

I agree that new reels and new rods are amazing.  But the original idea of the post that some of the biggest bass we caught on older and heavier rods and reels...rather than the new ones.  

 

The point was not to elicit what is acceptable on other sites or that other anglers have caught monster bass using new tech.   

 

The op is a very accomplished angler and shares alot of good knowledge that has helped alot of us.... his post wasnt to start a debate

[roadwarrior]

Every post is part of a discussion.

 

[Nibbles]

1 hour ago, BaitFinesse said:

If you're a lefty reel user that can palm the reel when pitching then it doesn't get any better than this.  An older gem of a reel made to do just that.  Magnesium too.  I'm still butthurt to this day that I didn't snag this very reel when I had the chance.  I just can't wrap me head around palming while pitching.  Gorgeous combo though.

I mean you still see TD-Z 103/105HL's on ebay now and then, sometimes the R/R+ ones too. Not quite an Orochi, but close?

[Teal]

45 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

Every post is part of a discussion.

 

From Mr. "Good night irene" smh 

[RichF]

I took the OP as a sales pitch to try and get his old stuff sold by stating how many giant bass were caught with it.  

[jbsoonerfan]

Bringing up the top 25 bass caught was meaningless to the post. Most of those fish were caught 30 years ago with the best there was at the time. The example of the two most recent ones were caught with high end gear. 

 

I'm not real sure what the point of the top 25 bass was. Should have just said that older equipment still works. Just like guys still shooting old Hoyt Pro-tecs talk bad about guys shooting short axle to axle 350 fps bows. They both obviously get the job done, but the newer stuff just makes it more enjoyable for some.

[Teal]

10 minutes ago, jbsoonerfan said:

Bringing up the top 25 bass caught was meaningless to the post. Most of those fish were caught 30 years ago with the best there was at the time. The example of the two most recent ones were caught with high end gear. 

 

I'm not real sure what the point of the top 25 bass was. Should have just said that older equipment still works. Just like guys still shooting old Hoyt Pro-tecs talk bad about guys shooting short axle to axle 350 fps bows. They both obviously get the job done, but the newer stuff just makes it more enjoyable for some.

Gear has gotten better...but bass haven't changed in 30 years.