Back to Basics?

[N.Y. Yankee]

I'm a pretty simple angler, at least, I try to keep things simple although I do use some modern rods and reels. This past weekend, I took my niece out fishing for an afternoon to an outlet stream where there are bass, smallies, rockbass, bluegill etc. We just grabbed a couple of old Shakespeare rods with Zebco 404 and 33 on them and a small assortment of Mepps spinners and some Beetle Spins. We had a good time just fishing, not worrying about lures, rods, lines, leaders and various stuff. We caught some fish and she even got a couple of small bass too. Sometimes it's fun to just go basic and just let it happen. Do you like to do this?

[T-Billy]

From ice out until it gets weedy there are many days where the only rod I pick up is my ned rod with a TRD Bug on a 1/8 football head. After the weeds establish themselves, there are many days a flippin stick is the only one I pick up. Grab a rig you have confidence in, and go to work.

[Bankc]

In September afternoons I do.  The bass bite usually shuts down around here that time of year.  So your best bet it to downsize, target panfish, and hope to get lucky and hook a bass by "accident".  If nothing else, catching panfish sure beats not catching bass.  

[Buzzbaiter]

It’s hard for me to do it with largemouth since all of the lakes I have access to are really pressured. River smallmouth are a different story. Some jigheads, a small assortment of plastics, and a spinning rod to match has been my primary setup, and I’ve hammered down hard with it. A Heddon Puppy Spook as well if you want some explosive fun on slack-water 

[Skunkmaster-k]

You’re speaking my language. I love just farting around having fun , sometimes. 

[king fisher]

Every once in a while I like to grab a shovel, dig some worms, break out a spinning rod, hook, bobber, and frying pan.   Keep what ever I catch and cook a shore lunch.  I'm not ever going to get rid of the bait monkey, but nothing wrong with making fishing simple, and relaxing.

[MAN]

I have resorted back to this as well.  I now have 1 little Plano sidekick tackle box that I fill per trip. When I get home I empty it, and refill again next trip. Each time tailoring to that specific trip. Kinda along the same line...keeping things super simple and having fun.    

 

[N.Y. Yankee]

Sometimes, you just have to simplify your life.

[Wprich]

My mom and I go back to the basics every year for the bream spawns.  Grab some light reels, cricket hooks, small bobbers, and 2 tubes of crickets and start looking for beds.  Only do it 2/3 times a year but have to admit it's as fun or maybe more than bass fishing.

[Mobasser]

Sometimes I do this too. I'll take a small marabou crappie jig and fish it slowly under a float. It catches everything. Tipping it with a piece of nightcrawlers makes it even better.

[Hulkster]

Mepps are classic baits that catch fish often when others don't produce. I love the red and black dressed black fury #5 for pike. I use Mepps often, fun lures to fish and they work. 

[the reel ess]

I have a pond I go to where the bass average about maybe a pound. I like to take an UL combo and use a small Rooster Tail. It catches bluegill as well. And the bluegill are big there. It's an ancient Eagle Claw rod and an UL Pflueger Trion reel. I also do this in a small stream nearby. It's close enough that I can go on my lunch hour if I want.

[PressuredFishing]

On 10/8/2021 at 1:56 PM, N.Y. Yankee said:

I'm a pretty simple angler, at least, I try to keep things simple although I do use some modern rods and reels. This past weekend, I took my niece out fishing for an afternoon to an outlet stream where there are bass, smallies, rockbass, bluegill etc. We just grabbed a couple of old Shakespeare rods with Zebco 404 and 33 on them and a small assortment of Mepps spinners and some Beetle Spins. We had a good time just fishing, not worrying about lures, rods, lines, leaders and various stuff. We caught some fish and she even got a couple of small bass too. Sometimes it's fun to just go basic and just let it happen. Do you like to do this?

Absolutely, I use an eagle Claw fiberglass ul rod with a 20 dollar cheapie reel with mono, is really good fun, lost a 8lb bass on it though so simple bit me in the Butt, rod bent in half and drag went *zip zip zip* and was sticky and treble popped out. Now I don't fish with "super cheap stuff" because my pb of 5lbs was caught on a night crawler and a piece of split shot on a little shakesphere dock demon rod, thank goodness it was winter but the drag was cranked all the way down and the fish kept pulling, 6lb line, but we all know the pre spooled line those reels have is 4, and a short foot and a half rod, who's knows how I landed that fish, got wrapped up I'm tulies but it somehow swam itself out. Personally don't go simple anymore much because simple almost lost me another nice fish.

[Bankbeater]

It can be quite relaxing just taking some bobbers, split shots, and small hooks in a small box and go out after bluegill and redears.

[Log Catcher]

I think I need to go back to this the way my bass fishing has been going. I can't make myself put away the bass baits. I need to get some crappie jigs out and try them for a while.