Originally Posted by
speck-tackler
This is not intended to be a "cute" post, I am truly interested in everyone's thoughts on this, as it is a question that crosses my mind from time to time...
Today, our expensive, tricked out boats look like floating porcupines with poles protruding out in every direction. We have down / side imaging sonar and GPS. We have suitcase size tackle boxes, crammed full of every imaginable crappie bait. We have the technology and equipment that will allow us to do everything in the world, short of sitting at home and having the fish caught for us remotely. What does all this get us? We catch fish, lots of fish.
However, I look back 30+ years, and remember crappie fishing with my dad. We had a 12' Alumacraft with an OLD 6hp Eska on the back, a sculling paddle (I was the trolling motor - SMILE), a cheap rod and reel apiece, a house brick tied to a piece of rope (I also served as the depth finder), and a tackle box that I could almost fit in my hip pocket. What did all that get us? We caught fish, lots of fish.
I HONESTLY don't see that today's crappie fishermen (as a whole) catch any more fish than they were catching 30 years ago. Is it just me? I will certainly agree that the fish can be caught more quickly. It absolutely took us a lot longer to find the fish back then, but we did find them. I wonder if finding them so quickly is always a good thing. When my dad and I went fishing, we got to enjoy being on the water from daybreak to dusk. Any more, seems we limit out and are back home by lunch.
I am not knocking the technological advances... I love it. I am also not knocking the folks who take advantage of all the advances... I am right there with you. It just crosses my mind from time to time, and I have to smile. Wonder what my dad would think of all these gadgets, if he were still alive?
This is so true. I remmeber those days myself.
It's not the numbers or the size, it's the time spent on the water!