Old People's Goals

[Paul J Trybul]

Some day I will catch more fish than Tom L, Scott F and my son.

[Mike G]

I always liked this old man's goal:

 

"The ancients wrote of the three ages of man,

I propose to write of the three ages of the fisherman.

 

“When he wants to catch all the fish he can.
When he strives to catch the largest fish.
When he studies to catch the most difficult fish he can find,

requiring the greatest skill and most refined tackle,

caring more for the sport than the fish."

Edward R. Hewitt, A Trout And Salmon Fisherman For Seventy-Five Years

[Kev-mo]

Wouldn't the biggest fish (smallmouth, trout etc.) also possibly be the hardest to catch? The logic being they got that big because they were wary, difficult to fool/catch etc.

 

Most days I'm squarely in the number two spot with an eye on number three (Brutus?) and the occasional foray back to number one.

[Scott Ferguson]

Some day I will catch more fish than Tom L, Scott F and my son.

 

Your goal to best Tom and Paul Jr. is a tall order. If you keep fishing that Ned rig, I'm going to have a hard time keeping up with you.

[Mike G]

Wouldn't the biggest fish (smallmouth, trout etc.) also possibly be the hardest to catch? The logic being they got that big because they were wary, difficult to fool/catch etc.

 

 

Kevin,

 

Often they are one and the same. But I see a difference between the Smallmouths I used to catch in the Quetico and the ones I catch in Illinois waters. In the day Basswood Lake was a Mecca for big Smallmouths. I beat the Brutus mark once there. I haven't done that in Illinois, but I consider several 19 inchers from local waters greater accomplishments. Someday perhaps I will catch a monster Florida Strain Largemouth that dwarfs anything I have caught so far. The 20+ inch Largemouths I caught from DuPage County Forest Preserve Lakes are still better fits to level 3.

 

"When he studies to catch the most difficult fish he can find,

requiring the greatest skill and most refined tackle,

caring more for the sport than the fish."

 

[Paul J Trybul]

Thanks guys.

[Paul J Trybul]

I have been advocating catch and immediately release on fishing websites. One comment that I was a fag. Sad that some fishermen are manely keeping fish.