Interesting way to Fish

[Flatfish]

Not getting out to fish much this weekend I went right after work yesterday. Well as I was heading up the lake to my favorite spot I noticed 2 younger Mexican men tossing a lure in the water from the bank, I slowed down to see what they were doing. They had 2-Liter pop bottle's wrapped with fishing line and  had a  rattle trap tied on one. The other one had a catfish rig tied on. I had to stop and just watch as these two fished their homemade rigs, it was amazing to me. After a brief talk (his broken english and my very poor spanish) I started to leave and the older one showed me his stringer, two nice size Drum's 3-4 lbs. He lowered his stringer back into the lake laughing and rubbing his belly as to say "you know where these are going". All my rods and reels, the boat, boxes of tackle, and here I am getting outfished with Pop Bottles, how humbling is that.

[KU_Bassmaster.]

I see your from KS.  Did this happen to be at Lacyne?  I have seem this being done by the hot water outlet and they absolutely hammer the carp and catfish using corn.

[Muddpuppy]

That's what we call a jug line, although I have never seen anyone use a lure on one.  We use them to catch catfish alot.  

[KU_Bassmaster.]

That's what we call a jug line, although I have never seen anyone use a lure on one. We use them to catch catfish alot.

If Flatfish and I are talking about the same thing, they actually use the bottle as a reel, as where in a jug line the bottle is more of a bobber.  It's pretty incredible to watch.  

[Flatfish]

This was at Wyandotte County Lake and they were using the jug's as reels, I was facinated at how far they were casting.

[New Bass Man]

I've seen this method in Europe.  

[master_baiter]

we used to use suckers for muskie bait when i was younger and we would stock our pond with them and use a milk jug and worm on a hook to catch them by just throwing them into the pond and check in a couple hours if the jugs were zipping around the pond.

[Raul]

The kids in the towns around the local lakes use a pretty beat up aluminum can, several yards of mono, a split shot and a hook baited with waxmorms to fish for bluegills and crappies or dough bait for carp, they catch them by tons. Amazing casting abilities they have and I 've seen them land monster carp on them.

[Muddpuppy]

My mistake, guess I kind of got of track.

[Marty]

When I first started out it was fairly common to see people use line wrapped around a beer can, but I don't see that much anymore. Maybe as the years have progressed, folks can better afford reels since they can be had for a pretty low price.

Changing the subject somewhat, I've always seen people using spinning reels on top of the rod, reeling backwards. I could never figure that one out, but I still see it from time to time.

Do you guys see that?

[DDbasser]

Changing the subject somewhat, I've always seen people using spinning reels on top of the rod, reeling backwards. I could never figure that one out, but I still see it from time to time.

Do you guys see that?

My wifes little brother used to use a spinning reel like that.

One day I asked him why and he said that he couldn't reel with his left hand, I showed him how to change the handle over to the other side, now he uses it the way it's supposed to be used.  

I've seen people use the can reel below Keystone dam here in NE Oklahoma, they catch a ton of sandbass that way.

[FlyRod]

More years ago than I like to admit (but I will later), I was fishing a lake in Mexico when I saw a raggedy little guy with braided dacron line wrapped on a beer can, tossing an ancient and rusty-hooked plug, an old River Runt. He had three bass, from about 13 to 16 inches, already on his stringer.

My partner, who spoke some Spanish, jokingly asked the lad what that "reel" was called, to which Lil' Xavier (Hah-vee-air) smilingly replied..."Miguel 300".

We beached the boat, and shared our lunch with him. I wonder to this day what he REALLY thought of deviled ham, swiss, and onion s'wiches, cheese puffs, celery, and Big Red (Tom's drink. I can't stand the stuff!) but I'm fairly certain the Snickers bar passed muster.

My buddy somehow gleaned that there were big bass to be had by a sizeable flooded tree some distance from shore, but, alas, the kid said, he couldn't toss his R-Runt that far.

We put him in the boat, handed him a rod and headed for the tree. We watched as he got the hang of using a spinning rig with a 1/4 oz. spinnerbait tied on. He then proceeded to boat two  bass in maybe seven casts, both decent sized.

When we left, the kid was the proud owner of a Fenwick spinning rod w/(real) Mitchell 400 (the blue high-speed version of the 300), an extra spool, handle, and bail springs; A Cardinal 4 on another F'wick (mine), with an extra spool, 300 yds of 10 lb. test, a storage box full of plugs and spinner baits, and about 25 bux in US and Mexican currency. It was worth it!

That night, as we swilled wonderful Margaritas at the waterfront cantina, Tom and I could think of nothing but the look on that kid's mug when we pulled away in the boat and he realized the gifts and $ really were his to keep.

Tom:"Well, buddy, that was a kinda pricey outing, but well worth it."

F.Rod: "Yeah, we needed to start using more baitcasters anyway. You know, like walking the high wire without a net!"

Let's see... that kid was, if memory serves, 12 years old and that was an even 30 years ago. I wonder if he ever thinks of the two crazy gringos in the red Rebel bassboat he met that day at Azucar (Sugar) Lake.

F.Rod

PS: Tom's gone on to fish with St. Peter but I still have custody of the gifts the kid gave us "for luck" ; One River Runt, rusty hooks and all, that was at one time, (I think) a sort of silvery color, and the little carved wood cross he was wearing on a strip of leather 'round his scruffy neck.

I hope he didn't become a Big Red junky.

f.r.

[Muddpuppy]

I have a spinning rig that my father uses inverted.  He may turn it over at times but every time I have noticed the reel is on top.  I have mentioned that he could try turning it over, and he insists it works just fine like that.  He doesn't seem to have any trouble with it at all.  It isn't one of my favorite reels and always gives me problems when I try to use it normally.  The only reason I still keep it is because he prefers to use it when we go and even comments sometimes how much he likes that rod.  I have variety of other rods and types he could choose from so it's not like he has to make it work.  I have seen him land 5lb.'rs like that.   Go figure.

When we would work on power plant cooling towers or locations next to lakes or rivers it wasn't uncommon for somebody to rig up a fishing aperatus of some sort at lunch or downtime.  One job the companies trailers were located next to the a slough and a few brought some cheap fishing gear and left out there to play around with.

[Guest hydrillagorilla]

I have seen the pop bottle reel many times in the Bahamas and Mexico.  

Always been intrigued.

[kbj3579]

Great story fly rod....It's people like you that make me proud to say I am a fisherman!

[abelfisher]

Great story Flyrod!  I am sure the young ( now middle aged) Mexican boy has told that story more times than you have probably thought about it!.  That was probably one of the major highlights in his young life.  Great story!  I am sure your friend is catching the bigguns up with St. Peter!