Reminiscing about fishing...
I still can't believe I used to fish with that clunky Zebco 33 Classic. Even before that just some fishing line on a stick. Then the one time I saw another kid with the pop can and bobber technique.
Well after seeing it once, I knew I wanted to do that. Yes lucky for us, having them Asian drinks, they came in slender longer cans. They were perfect for smaller hands of four or five years old me. I didn't used it much cuz that's where the Zebco 33 came in.
The Zebco 33 may have been laughed at by everyone who have seen me used it, but when I catch fish, it all stopped. True that I lacked the fishing skills, but that Zebco 33 was used until I was 21 years of age.
I thought Zebco was the bomb, that my first fishing pole I bought was the Zebco Rhino rod. I was convinced by all my fishing buddies to buy an open face spinning reel. So entered the Shakespeare Alpha XT reel. That's the cheapest open face spinning reel available.
I thought a fishing pole and reel is just a fishing pole and reel. At this time all my fishing buddies were using equipment of around $30-$50 retail. My as skills was still sub par in comparison. I was just bobber or bottom live bait guy. They were catching fish with jigs and rooster tails. My equipment couldn't handle it. So I had to upgrade. What do you know, it's Shakespeare. Yes the Ugly Stik lite enters on the scene. I also upgraded my reel to the top of the line Shakespeare reel, Intrepid reel. Wow huge difference. Apparently better equipment does improves one's fishing skill. I admit I was wrong to think equipment didn't matter. It does.
Well after one season of heavy use, the reels breaks down. They get Grundy or loose. They sometimes have a part break. It was almost a seasonal thing to buy a new reel, year after year. Well on my third time I by chance upgraded to a Shimano Sahara reel. Wow this thing was amazing. I was still partially in the mindset of a reel is still just a reel a rod was just a rod. I tried out a new rod, a graphite rod from Shakespeare from Wally world, Sigma Titanium. Wow total game changer from the Ugly Stik feel. Also first seven feet pole as well. The Sahara reel was good but I needed something a bit better.
The season came to an end. I was at Joe's Sporting Goods. I saw the Shimano Stradic FG on sale. $100 sale price, down from the $120 retail price. I bought two of them, the 4000 size. Did some fall fishing with them. Felt a bit heavy and oversized.
Christmas came around, decided to treat myself to some new fishing rods. After extensive research I settled on Cabela's XML rods. I ordered two of the 7' Heavy power two pieces rod, on sale of course. Put both of the Stradic 4000 on, perfect match.
Spring came around and the Cabela's XML paired with Stradic FG 4000 were killing it, but was uncomfortable with crappie fishing. By chance went back to Joe's Sporting Goods and saw still two Stradic FG 1000 reels in the clearance bin. I snatched up both of them. Now they get paired with the Sigma Titanium rods.
I can't remember in details of what the exact time table of how it all took place, but to it feels like that all was around late 90s or just new millennium. Well today I still have those Stradic FG 4000 on the Cabela's XML rods. Yes and lots of other higher end equipment since then as well. Most of all, I am fully convinced that better equipment does improve one's fishing skills, especially in technical skills to use artificial lures.
